
Class. 
Book. 



HISTORY 



OF 



J 



"1 r 




JL 



COMPRISING THE PRESENT TOWNS OF 



YARMOUTH AND DENNIS. 



From the Settlement to tpie Division in 1794 

WITH THE History of Both ^owns 

TO THESE Times. 



r> 



BY CHARLES F. SWIFT. 



YARMOUTH PORT: 
Published by the Author, 



06GB 



COPYRIGHT, 1SS4, 
Ey C. F. swift &SON. 





Words of Introduction. 

— * — Si 

THE author of the follov/iiig- pages designs to present, in 
a narrative form, the ascertained facts respecting Old 
Yarmouth, from the early days of the settlement down to 
the present time, more particularly elucidating that portion 
of the history of the ancient township which is the least ac- 
cessible and understood by the general public. Interwoven 
into the narrative, will be presented pen-portraits of the 
prominent men and women of the times in which they were 
upon the stage of action, who have illustrated the character 
and aspirations of the successive generations that have lived, 
struggled and fulfilled their life-dest.iny here. 

The student of the history of Yarmouth, at the outset of 
his work, confronts the serious disadvantage of the absence 
of public records for the first thirty-seven years of its exist- 
ence as a town. In 1676, the house of the town clerk, with 
all the town's books, was destroyed by fire, a calamity the 
greatness of which must have been very imperfectly appre- 
ciated, since no effort seems to have been made to rescue 
from oblivion events connected v/ith the early years of the 



4 OLD YARMOUTH. 

town or of its separate families. No contemporary writings 
of much value, by any of its inhabitants, are extant, and the 
writer of its annals is obliged to content himself with what 
he can glean from the court records, incidental allusions to 
be found in the histories of other towns, and the meagre 
published writings of the period under review. Such is the 
zeal with which antiquarian research has been pushed the 
last twenty-five years, that it is probable that no documents 
of value, illustrative of the history of the period, have escaped 
detection ; and it is therefore believed to be time that such 
authentic materials as are available should be collected and 
embodied in a narrative form, for the information of this 
generation and of posterity. Should future discoveries be 
made, they cannot materially change the record here imper- 
fectly sketched, and will only serve to add to and illustrate 
already established facts. 

The collection of the materials for this narrative has occu- 
pied the attention of the writer, at intervals, for the last ten 
years, and the amount of labor involved in arriving at a 
conclusion, respecting even seemingly trivial facts, cannot 
easil}^ be estimated by one who has had no experience in this 
sort of work. The composition of the volume has been 
snatched from hours devoted to other engrossing duties, but 
has been rendered a pleasant task by a love of the subject, 
and a sincere admiration for the men and women whose lives 
and fortunes it has been his aim to delineate in the succeed- 
ing pages. Without making any further claim, the author 
knows that he has labored with zeal and dilligence to collect 
together all the important facts bearing on the history of the 
town, and with an honest effort, according to his best intel- 



INTRODUCTION. 5 

ligencc, to render his pages reliable and just in their estimate 
of men and events. 

A few explanatory remarks may here be properly made. 
In references to ancient transactions, the writer has omitted 
double dates, except in quoting documents which he desires 
to reproduce verbatim, and made the dates correspond to the 
present computation of the calendar year. As is known to 
all well-informed persons, after the calendar was corrected by 
Pope Gregory XIII., in the year 1582, by changing the 
commencement of the year from the 25th of March to the 
1st of January, the new style, though adopted by all Catholic 
countries, v/as not acquiesced in by England until 1752. But 
some regard was paid to it, by affixing a double date to the 
days of the year between the ist of January and the 25th of 
March. The writer, however, has adopted the rule of 
attaching to such days the year which began the ist of Jan- 
uary preceding, as is the case at the present time. 

It has been the aim of the author to preserve the flavor 
and spirit of the old records and writings to which he is 
indebted for his narrative of events, and while employing the 
forms of expression of these writers, has not felt called upon 
except in rare instances, to give the authorities upon which 
he relies for his statements, and thus confusing the reader by 
a bristling array of foot-notes. It will suffice, in general 
terms, to say, that the colonial, town and precinct records 
were the chief sources of information in composing this 
work. In an especial manner, the writer acknowledges his 
indebtedness to the publications of the late Mr. Amos Otis. 
Without his indefatigable and intelligent labors, the work of 
writing this history would have been doubly laborious. The 



6 OLD YARMOUTH. 

works of Savage, Young, Palfrey, Dr. James Freeman and 
Dr. Timothy Alden, Jr., are, of course, authorities with which 
writers of history are obliged to keep up an intimate and 
unceasing acquaintance. For the ecclesiastical history of 
the town, the writer has relied upon the investigations of 
Rev. John W. Dodge, which he has found very accurate, and 
has generally quoted him on such matter.s. To Wm. P. Davis, 
the intelligent and accommodating town clerk of Yarmouth, 
the author expresses his deep sense of obligation, for favors 
always and most willingly accorded. 

The writer has observed that the foot-notes are frequently 
the most interesting part of a book. He has, therefore, 
endeavored to weave such incidents as are usually comprised 
in the notes into the body of the work, in order that the 
reader's attention may not be distracted from the narrative. 
He trusts that, whatever this course will derogate from the 
"dignity of history," will be made up, in adding to the 
interest and attractiveness of the work. 

The reader may observe, in the perusal of the following 
pages, some discrepancies in the spelling of proper names, 
more particularly in the early part of the book. In explana- 
tion, it may be said, that this was due to the writers of the 
pages quoted. In the writings of the time, and frequently in 
the same document, there are glaring discrepancies of 
orthography ; but the author has geiicrally followed the 
spelling of the authors quoted, even though they were 
not always consistent with antecedent or subsequent writ- 
ings, or even with themselves. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

Description of Old Yarmouth, 13 — 15 

What comprised Old Yarmouth — Geographical Limits — Geology — Soil— Rivers and 
Great Ponds — Hills — Harwich, Chatham and Brewster formerlj- a part of Yar- 
mouth — English origin of the People — Post Offices, Churches, Population, Voters, 
Schools. 

chaptp:r ii. 

Before the Settlement, 16 — 19 

Mattacheese or Mattacheeset, Hockanom, Nobscusset, Ouivet and Sesuet — lyannough's 
and Mashantampaine's Lands — How Mattacheeset Missed being the Landing Place of 
the Pilgrims — Visit to lyannough — Capt. Hunt's Perfidy — Gov. Bradford at Matta- 
cheese — Capt. Standish's Visit and Difficulty with the Natives — Slaughter of Watta- 
wamat and Pecksuat and its Influence on the Cape Indians — Death of lyannough. 

CHAPTER HI. 
The Settlement, 20 — 26 

Rev. Stephen Bachilor's attempt at Settlement — Stephen Hopkins permitted to pasture 
Cattle at Mattacheese — Wheldenand Armstrong permitted to locate here — Permanent 
and authorized settlement by Thacher, Howes and Crow and their associates — Division 
of the Planting Lands — Mr. Andi-ew Hallet and his "Assumption" of Lands — Mr. 
Callicut and his Grant — The First Deputies to the Colony Courts Court orders 
respecting Yarmouth — The name of Yarmouth — First Settlers and their Localities — 
The First Highway — Earliest experiences of the Settlers — First Church — Rev. 
Marmaduke Matthews — First Meeting House — Fort Hill. 

CHAPTER IV. 
Form of Civil Govp:rnment, Courts, etc, 27 — 32 

Change in the Form of Government — The Laws — Towns in the Colony — The First 
Local Court — General Court held in Yarmouth — Report of the Proceedings — 
Eastern Boundary of the Town — Boundary Line between Yarmouth and Barn- 
stable — Judicial Decisions. 



8 CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER V. 

Secular Affairs and Church Troubles. 33 - 39 

Town Officers and Assessments — Freemen admitted — Apportionment — A Law 
Case — Indian Hostilities Apprehended — List of Persons Capable of Bearing 
Arms — List of Freemen — Charges of the Troops — Nauset a Town — Indians 
Complained of by Mr. Sears • — Church Troubles — Mr. Matthews and Wm. Chase — 
Chase, Starr, Nickerson and others complained of, as Jeerers and Scoffers — The 
Hull Schism — Mr. Miller's Settlement — Church Council called— John Elliott, the 
Apostle to the Indians, in Yarmouth — His Labors and Trials — Christianity Taught 
Here, by a Shipwrecked French Crew. 

CHAPTER VI. 

Settlement of Land Titles. 40 - 43 

The several Committees appointed to Divide the Lands — Capt. Standish in Yarmouth — 
He acts in his usual decisive manner — Provisions for Future Difficulties. 

CHAPTER Vn. 

The P^ I RST Comers. 44-7' 

Anthony Thacher — John Crow — Thomas Howes — Andrew Hallet — Andi-ew Hallet, 
Jr. — Marmaduke Matthews — Edward Sturges — Edmund Hawes — Richard Sears 

— Thomas Starr — William Chase — Samuel Rider — John Gorham — Robert Den- 
nis — Wm. Nickerson — John Hall — James Matthews — Richard Taylors — William 
Hedge — Francis Baker — Peter Worden, Sr. and Jr. — John and Joshua Barnes — 
William and Robert Eldridge — John Joyce — Richard Berry — Philip Tabor — 
Samuel Arnold — Thomas Boardman — Thomas Falland — William Palmer — Ga- 
briel Whelden — Tliomas Payne — Rev. John Miller — Richard Hore — John Gray 

— Nicholas Simpkins — Yelverton Crow. 

CHAPTER VHP 

Who AND What They Were. 72-82 

Pasturage and Planting Lands sought for — Cattle Raising — Religious Freedom — 
Toleration not professed, but practised — Theological Differences accounted for — 
Pilgrim and Puritan Traits combined — Domestic and Every-day Life — Character 
of their Amusements — Business Pursuits — Fisliing, Trading, Agriculture, Manu- 
factures — Food and Beverages — First Dwellings — Style of Dress — The Settlers not 
in Indigent Circumstances — Money, and Corn as Currency — The Professions, Legal 
and Medical-- Not Seeking for Honor or Fame — Duty, tlieir Governing Motive. 

CHAPTER IX. 
P'uRTHER Progress of the Town. 83 -96 

Uneventful Annals — Eel River Bridge — Drift Whales — Military Consultations — Death 
of Rev. John Lothrop of Barnstable — E.xpedition against the Dutch — Marriages 
by Magistrates — Mashantampaigne summoned to Court — Janno's Complaints 
against the Grantees — Freemen in 1656 — The Quakers — The People Admonished 
to Support the Ministry — Drift Whales, again — Fatal Results of a Wrestling Match 

— Warning out of Town — Mr. Thornton Connnences his Ministry — Consumption 



CONTENTS. 9 

of Liquors — A Wild Lark — Disciplining Scoffers— Monomoyick to be "Within the 
Liberties of Yarmouth " — Selectmen Appointed- — Punished for Disturbing meetings 
and making Opprobrious Speeches of Mr. Thornton — Freemen in 1670 — Collect- 
ing the Ministerial Rates — End of the Controversy with William Nickerson — Death 
of Gov. Prence and Accession of Josias Winslow — Monomoyick and Satucket set 
off to Eastham — Difficulties with Mashantampaigne — Yarmouth Acquittance to the 
Grantees^- The Cape Indians Renew their Covenant with the English. 

CHAPTER X. 
Philip's War. 97-106 

Premonitions of Trouble with the Indians realized — Massasoit, Alexander and Philip 

Murder of a Renegade Indian — War, from Maine to Rhode Island — Extent of Loss 
of Life and Property — The Cape Towns exempt from Hostilities — Capt. Gorham 
and Company march for Mount Hope — Operations without Results — Letter from 
Capt. Gorham to the Massachusetts Council — Second Expedition — Xarrao'ansett 
Swamp Fight — Death of Capt. Gorham — Third Expedition under Capt. Thomas 
Howes — Other Expeditions — Names and Pay-rolls of the Companies — Pecuniary 
Burdens of the War — Friendship of the Cape Indians — Contributions of Christ. lus 
in Ireland — Fraternal Spirit among the Towns — War Rate for 1676. 

CHAPTER XI. 

From Philip's War to the Union with Massa- 
chusetts. 107- 1 15 

Deaths -Warning to Sawtucket People— Black-birds and Crows— Freemen in 1678 

Pensions —Minister's Salary — Whales cast on Shore— Half- Way— Covenant — The 
White Family — Indians — Repairing the Meeting-House — County of Barnstable Di- 
vision of Sesuet—Wilham and Mary's War— The Whale Fishery, and Zachariah Pad- 
dock — Sir Edmund Andros's Administration — Union of Plymouth with Massachusetts. 

CHAPTER XH. 

Under the Provincial Charter. ii6- 123 

First Provincial Representatives — Mr. Thornton's Removal — Schools— " Seating" 
Congregations — Deaths — Various Town M eeting votes — Whale Boat Fleets — Mr. 
Cotton's death — Mr. Greenleaf's Settlement— Deaths of Mr. Basset and Mr. Miller 
— Mr. Jaquesh the Schoolmaster. 

CHAPTER XHI. 
Division of the Common Lands. 124- 132 

The Committee's Grants — Votes for Dividing the lands — Committees chosen — Tene- 
ment, Personal and Property Rights — List of the Proprietors and their several pro- 
portions — Third and Final Division — The Indian and other Reservations. 



lO CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

From the French Wars to the Revolution, 133 — 149 

Proposed Legislation about Wolves — Death of Col. John Thacher — Romance of his Life 

— The Thacher Cradle — Enlargement of the Meeting House — Provincial Loan — 
A Marvellous Occurrence — Difficulties with Mr. Greenleaf — Eastern Emigration -- 
Division of "Crocket" Neck — Expedition to Louisburg — Hard Times and the 
French Wars — Rev. Messrs. Smith and Rawson — Church Enlargement — Mr. 
Green's Settlement and Death — Rev. Timothy Alden's Settlement. 

CHAPTER XV. 

The Revolutionary War, 150 — 166 

The Patriotic Record of the Town — Unjust Aspersions — Action of the Committees of 
Correspondence, Observation and Prevention — Obstruction of the Courts — Rally to 
Dorchester Heights — Preparations and Precautions — The Lexington and Concord 
Alarm — Votes by the Town and Parishes for raising Troops — Vote in favor of 
Independence — Action of the Precincts — Wreck of the Frigate Somerset — Distress of 
the People — Peace declared — Capt. Isaac Sears — Wreck of British war ship Cum- 
berland — Education — Small Pox — Suit against Thomas Greenough — Shipwrecks 
and other Casualties — Division of the Town, and Incorporation of Dennis. 

CHAPTER XVI. 

The Native Indians, 167 — 176 

Their Numbers and Character Before the .Settlement — The Pestilence — Purchase of 
Lands — Their Subjection to the English — Efforts to Christianize the Natives, by 
Elliott and Others — Their Love for Spirituous Liquors — Statistics — Deacon Nau- 
haught, and His Wonderful Encounter with a Snake — Whittier's Poem — The Closing 
Scene. 

CHAPTER XVII. 
Division to the War of 1812 - 15, 177 — 185 

Meeting House at South Sea — First Post Office — Small Pox — Business Statistics of 
South Sea — Death of Hon. David Thacher — Academy asked for — Rev. Dr. Samuel 
West — The Embargo — War Declared against Great Britain — Attitude of the Town 

— Incidents and Events — Peace Proclaimed. 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

From THE War of 1812-15 to the Southern 

Rebellion, 186 — 201 

Post-Office — Bridge across Bass River — Temperance Movement — Rev. Nath'l Cogswell's 
Ordination — Death of Judge George Thacher — Burning of the County House — 
Death of Rev. Timothy Alden — Alms House and Town House Built — Deaths of 
Charles Hallet and Henry Thacher — Surplus Revenue — Death of Capt. Samuel 
Taylor — Terrible Gale of 1841 — Cape Cod Association Celebrate Here — Death of 
Hon. John Reed. 



CONTENTS. 1 1 

CHAPTER XIX. 

War of the Rebellion to Our Own Times, 202 — 217 

The Guns of Sumter — First War Meeting — Yarmouth's Opinions — Meetings of Voters 
and Citizens — Money voted for Warlike Purposes — Other Local Events — Fire — 
Ordination — Camp Meeting — Railroad Opened — New Church Edifice — The Pack- 
ets and Stage Coaches — Deaths of Gen. Joseph Hamblin and Capt. Isaiah Crowell — 
New Library Building — Deaths of Capt. John Eldridge, Capt. Allen H. Knowles, 
Dr. Geo. Shove, and Others — Some Recent Events, Etc. 

CHAPTER XX. 

The Mails, Telegraph and Telephone, 218 — 220 

Early Transportation of Letters — First Post Office — Further Post Ofifice Facilities — 
The Telegraph and Telephone. 

CHAPTER XXI. 
Education, 221 — 231 

Common School System not of English Origin — Parental Education the Earliest System 
— Action of the Colony Court — The Cape Cod Fisheries the Earliest Educational 
Fund — Advanced School Established — Mutual Improvement and Lecture Funds — 
Town Libraries, etc., — College Graduates. 

Appendix, 232 — 238 

Slavery — Missionary Work, by Yarmouth Captains — State, Coimty and District Officers 
Deputies, Representatives, Selecrmen, Town Clerks and Treasurers. 



Dennis since Separation. 

CHAPTER I. 
From Separation to War of the Rebellion, 240 — 259 

The East Parish — Rev. Mr. Dennis — Organization of the New Town — Manufacture of 
Salt — Rev. Nathan Stone — Bass River Bridge — The Commercial Distress — War 
of 1812 — Great Temperance Revival — Cranberry Culture — Great Gale of 1841 — 
Various Local Occurrences, etc. 

CHAPTER II. 

The Rebellion to our own Times, 260 — 272 

Proceedings of the Town — Men and Money Voted — Expression of Public Sentiment — 
Union of the School Districts — Tragedy on board brig Lubra — Deaths of Seth 
Croweli, Prince S. Crowell, Luther Child, Nehemiah Crowell, M. S. Underwood, and 
other Prominent Citizens — Recent Local Events. 



12 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER III. 

Statistics of Population, etc., 273 — 278 

Various Census Tables — Change of Business Enterprises — Emigrations from the Town 
— Closing Reflections. 

Appendix, 278 — 281 

Education — State and District Offices — Representatives, Selectmen, Clerks and Treas- 
urers. 



MAP 

OF' 

OLD\ARMOUTH 




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fUur'^criiT^ a CtjJW.H^s^vRitkBMrrj 



OLD YARMOUTH. 



CHAPTER I. 
DESCRIPTION OF OLD YARMOUTH. 

What comprised Old Yarmouth — Geographical Limits — Geology — Soil— Rivers and 
Great Ponds — Hills — Harwich, Chatham and Brewster formerly a part of Yar- 
mouth — English origin of the People — Post Offices, Churches, Population, Voters, 
Schools. 

THE term Old Yarmouth is meant to describe the 
whole of the territory of the ancient township now 
comprised in the towns of Yarmouth and Dennis. The lat- 
ter, though at first not so generally settled as the mother 
town, has now become the more populous of the two ; but 
the towns preserve a homogeneity of interests, pursuits and 
characteristics, and a general harmony of action ; and for 
these reasons, and because they were one until ninety 
years ago, the story of their origin, progress and achieve- 
ments, will be told together. 

The original township lies about mid-way of the peninsula 
of Cape Cod, and extends entirely across the Cape, from 
Barnstable Bay to Vineyard Sound, between the parallels of 
70° 7' and 70° 16' north latitude, and 41° 37' and 41° 5' 
west longitude. It is nearly square in form, being on an 
average about eight miles from north to south and from east 
to west. The villages are on both sides, near the rivers 
and borders of the sea. 

The geological formation of the township is drift or allu- 
vium ; consisting of sand and gravel, together with beds of 



14 OLD YARMOUTH. 

peat, admirably adapted to cranberry culture. Many bould- 
ers, deposited in the glacial period, according to the the- 
ories of geologists, are confusedly scattered over the north- 
ern shore. 

The soil is generally thin and light, although some excel- 
lent planting land, for gardens and orchards, is found on 
the northerly side. Forests of moderate growth, particular- 
ly of oak and pine, cover the middle regions. Large tracts 
of salt meadows skirt the shores of the northerly portion. 

Bass River, a stream affording sufficient water for naviga- 
tion of small crafts for live miles from its mouth, on the 
south shore, with the adjoining ponds, and Chase Garden 
River, on the north side, form a convenient boundary line be- 
tween the present towns of Yarmouth and Dennis for the 
greater portion of the distance. There are numbers of 
large ponds in this territory ; and a valuable fishery, owned 
jointly by Yarmouth and Dennis, is maintained at Follen's 
Pond, and in its tributary streams. 

The surface of the town, on the northerly side, is uneven, 
with several high hills. Scargo Hill, in the Dennis portion, 
is the highest eminence in Barnstable County ; and from it, 
a magnificent prospect, reaching from Minot's Ledge to Mar- 
tha's Vineyard, and occasionally to Nantucket, is obtained. 
German's Hill in Yarmouth, is another considerable emi- 
nence. The southern portion of the town is more nearly lev- 
el, with less variety of scenery than on the north side. 

In its earlier years the town exercised a sort of shadowy 
jurisdiction over a large portion of Brewster, Harwich and 
Chatham, which, though not exactly claimed as a part of its 
territory, were, in the language of the old records, described 
as " within the liberties of Yarmouth. " 

The people of the old township are of the purest English 
origin, with but little admixture of foreign blood, many of 
the traits of character, habits and quaint forms of speech of 
the early settlers being retained by their descendants, par- 
ticularly those who have preserved the primitive habits and 



DESCRIPTION OF OLD YARMOUTH. 15 

pursuits, and have continued to occupy the old family locali- 
ties. 

The limits of the township contained, according to the 
last census, 5463 inhabitants, and 1502 legal voters, has 10 
post-offices, and 10 church organizations ; and in 1883 ex- 
pended $11,150 for the support of common schools. It has 
a creditable and patriotic record, which should be kept alive, 
for the enlightenment and emulation of this and future 
generations. 



. CHAPTER II. 
BEFORE THE SETTLEMENT. 

Mattacheese or Mattacheeset, Hockanom, Nobsciisset, Quivet and Sesuet — lyannough's 
and Mashantampaine's Lands — How Mattacheeset Missed being the Landing Place of 
the Pilgrims — Visit to lyannough — Capt. Hunt's Perfidy — Gov. Bradford at Matta- 
cheese — Capt. Standish's Visit and Difficulty with the Natives — Slaughter of Watta- 
wamat and Pecksuat and its Influence on the Cape Indians — Death of lyannough. 

THE region in the vicinity of the habitations of the first 
comers, was known by the lr\dia.r\ names of 3/ai^ac/i£'6'se, 
Mattacheeset, Hockanovi and Nobsciisset. Mattacheese signified 
old lands, or planting lands, and the terminal /, was 
applied to places by the water, making MattacJieeset mean, 
old lands by the borders of the water. This term, which 
was a general designation, applied to other localities, and 
which has led to some confusion in historical research, 
described the region now the eastern part of Barnstable and 
the western portion of Yarmouth. From near White's brook 
to Dennis, was known as Hockanom ; beyond which, to 
Brewster, the region was called Nobsciisset. Quivet and 
Sesiiit were the names of tv/o necks of land in the north- 
easterly part of the town. lyannough's land extended from 
the easterly part of Barnstable and the westerly part of 
Yarmouth, across the Cape to " South Sea. " From 
lyannough's land to the Brewster line, Mashantampaine was 
the sachem, the natives in his jurisdiction being designated 
as N^obsciissets. The Paivkimnazvkiits occupied the vicinity 
of South Yarmouth and South Dennis, on both sides of Bass 
River. The boundaries of the Indian jurisdictions were very 
imperfectly defined, owing to the migratory habits and 



BEFORE THE SETTLEMENT. 17 

uncertain tenure of property of these sons of the soil. They 
set up no huts and bounds, and it is extremely difficult to 
define, except in a general way, the limits of the tribes in the 
townships. 

Some intercourse, previous to the settlement, had passed be- 
tween the natives and the settlers of Plymouth. In " AIo7irfs 
Relation'' of the explorations of a portion of the Mayflower's 
crew, to find a place of settlement, we have a reference to the 
fact that our harbor, with which the shallop's pilot had had 
some previous familiarity, was passed v/ithout recognition, 
owing to a severe snow-storm ; but for which circumstance, 
it is v/ithin the bounds of probability that the settlement of 
New England, with all its attendant consequences, might 
have been within the limits of Mattacheese. 

In June, 1621, a company from Plymouth visited this 
harbor in search of a lost boy. The Indians came down to 
the shore and invited them to land, and partake of the 
hospitalities of their sachem, lyannough. The English, after 
an exchange of hostages, accepted the invitation. The sa- 
chem received themx with royal and courtly hospitality. They 
found him "a man personable, gentle, courteous and fair- 
conditioned, about twenty-six years of age, indeed not a 
savage save in his attire. His entertainment was answerable 
to his parts, and his cheer plentiful and various." lyannough, 
with a party of his tribe, escorted the company to Nauset, 
where the boy was found, and upon their return gave another 
entertainment to his guests, and his followers took occasion, 
before the departure of the visitors, to give in their friendly 
adhesion to the English. 

It was while at Mattacheesethat the English found an Indian 
woman whom they judged to be not less than an hundred 
years old, who made them acquainted with the visit to this 
region of Capt. Hunt, the commander of one of the vessels of 
Capt. Smith's fleet, in 16 14, the abduction of her son and 
other Indians on board of their vessels, and the subsequent 
selling of them into slavery, at Malaga, — a piece of perfidy 



1 8 OLD YARMOUTH. 

which was the source of nearly all the subsequent troubles 
with the Indians in these parts. The English assured her 
and the other Indians, of their severe reprobation of this 
perfidious conduct on the part of their predecessors, and of 
their desire to cultivate amicable relations with their new 
acquaintances. 

In November, 1622, Gov. Bradford and a party embarked 
in the Swan, belonging to Weston's company of Weymouth, 
for Mattacheese, to procure food for the famishing colonists, 
and the trip was extended to Nauset. They succeeded in 
procuring a quantity of corn and beans. During their visit 
here they experienced severe storms with high winds ; the 
ship was much endangered and their shallop cast away. 
The Governor caused the corn to be stacked, and bought 
mats and sedge to cover it, and gave it in charge of the 
Indians, who guarded it safely during the Governor's visit to 
Plymouth, and until his return, by land. 

In February, 1623, Capt. Standish and party embarked in a 
shallop for Mattacheese, where the vessel was frozen into the 
harbor the first night of their arrival. The Indians 
" pretended their wonted love, and spared them a good 
quantity of corn to confirm the same. Strangers also came 
to this place, pretending only to see him and his company, 
whom they never saw before that time, but intending to join 
with the rest to kill them, as afterwards appeared." So runs 
the record of Winslow, who continued: "But being forced 
through extremity to lodge in their houses, which they much 
pressed, God possessed the heart of the Captain with just 
jealousy, giving strict command that as one part of the 
company slept the rest should wake, declaring some things 
to them which he understood whereof he could make no good 
construction." Some of the Indians also stole some beads 
from him, which, when he discovered the theft, although he 
had but six men with him, he drew them all from the boat, 
proceeded to the sachem's house, where most of the Indians 
were, and made demand for the immediate restoration of the 



BEFORE THE SETTLEMENT. 19 

stolen articles, threatening forcible proceedings unless the 
demand was complied with. Hereupon the sachem took 
measures to discover the aggressor, and caused him to return 
the stolen articles to the shallop; then coming to the Captain, 
desired him to search and see if the articles were not on board. 
The Captain, however, " suspecting their knavery," sent a 
man on board, who found the missing articles lying openly 
upon the boat's cuddy. " Yet to appease his anger they 
brought corn afresh, to trade, inasmuch as he loaded his 
shallop and so departed. This accident so daunted their 
courage as they durst not attempt anything against him." It 
must occur to the reader of this narrative that there is much 
reason to apprehend that the iiery Captain's suspicious and 
choloric temper led him too readily to distrust and misjudge 
the natives, especially in view of the repeated kindnesses 
which they had heretofore bestowed upon the English. The 
narrative further says, that "at this place the Indians ge: 
abundance of bass, both summer and winter, for it now being 
February, they abounded with them." 

The slaughter of Wattawamat, Pecksuat and their 
followers, by Capt. Standish and his company, a fev*^ weeks 
afterwards, produced a great panic among all the Indians of 
the Cape, as well as throughout the limits of the colony. 
They forsook their dwellings, wandered about in bewilder- 
ment and fear, and living in swamps and deserts contracted 
diseases, of which many of them died. Among the number 
was the hospitable, courtly and mild-mannered sachem 
lyannough, whose sad fate was an ill requital of the 
uniform kindness which he ever bestowed upon the English. 

The intercourse with the natives, in this region, which was 
temporarily suspended during these troubles, was afterwards 
resumed, and much profitable traffic was carried on by the 
colonists, while the granaries of the Cape Indians often 
relieved the necessities of the sufferinc: Endish. 



CHAPTER III. 
THE SETTLEMENT. 

Rev. Stephen Bachilor's attempt at Settlement — Stephen Hopkins permitted to pasture 
Cattle at Mattacheese — Whelden and Armstrong permitted to locate here — Permanent 
and authorized settlement by Thacher, Howes and Crow and their associates — Division 
of the Planting Lands — Mr. Andrew Hallet and his "Assumption" of Lands — Mr. 
Callicut and his Grant — The First Deputies to the Colony Court — Court orders 
respecting Yarmouth — The name of Yarmouth — First Settlers and their Localities — 
The First Highway — Eai'liest experiences of the Settlers — First Church — Rev. 
Marmaduke Matthews — First Meeting House — Fort Hill. 

T has been customary to refer to the abortive enterprise of 
Rev. Stephen Bachilor, who came to Mattacheese in the 
winter of 1637-8, as the first settlement of Yarmouth. The 
region where he took up his abode during that rigorous 
winter was for four or five years a part of Yarmouth ; but, by 
the subsequent rectification of the boundaries, was, and now 
is, included in the limits of Barnstable. Mr. Bachilor's 
settlement was a failure, and probably had but little influence 
upon the future of the present town of Yarmouth. 

The earliest occupation of the town which is a matter of 
record, was in August, 1638, when the colony court granted 
leave to Stephen Hopkins " to erect a house at Mattacheese, 
and cut hay to winter his cattle, provided it be not to with- 
draw him from the town of Plymouth." In September of 
the same year, permission was granted to Gabriel Whilden 
and Gregory Armstrong to locate here, "with the consent 
of the committees of the place," which seems to imply some 
previous organization, at least, for a settlement. Hopkins 
was one of the Mayflower's company. He afterwards con- 
veyed his house to Andrew Hallet, Jr., and the locality of his 



THE SETTLEMENT. 2i 

domicile is thus quite accurately defined. Tliis was tlie first 
house in town built by an Englishman, the location of which is 
known.' Whelden is still a Yarmouth name, but of Arm- 
strong we have no further record. The early settlers of New 
England were in the habit of often changing their localities, 
and their final settlements, even after obtaining grants, were, 
owing to this circumstance, a matter of great uncertainty. 

The permanent and authorized settlement of the town 
commenced early in 1639. The grantees of the court were, 
Mr. Anthony Thacher, Mr. John Crow, Mr. Thomas Howes, 
each of whom had taken the oath of allegiance the December 
and January preceding, and had surveyed the lands, prepara- 
tory to occupation. They, with John Coite, "to be inquired 
of," Mr. Madrick Matthews, Philip Tabor, William Palmer, 
Samuel Rider, Wm. Lumpkin and Thomas Hatch, were 
proposed, 7th Jan. 1639, " ^o take up their freedom at Yar- 
mouth." The same page records the following "persons 
there excepted against : Old Worden, (dead,) Burnell, Wrio-ht, 
Wat Deville." In March following, Mr. Nicholas Simpkins, 
Hugh Tilley, Giles Hopkins and Joshua Barnes are mentioned 
in the court records as of Yarmouth. 

The court at this session ordered, in relation to Yarmouth, 
that a committee be chosen to make an equal division of the 
planting lands, " now to be divided at the first division there, 
each man according to his estate and quality, and according 
to their instructions ;" and Mr. Nicholas Simpkins, William 
Palmer, Philip Tabor and Joshua Barnes were added to the 
three grantees, for this purpose ; and that Joshua Pratt, of 
Plymouth and Mr. John Vincent of Sandwich " shall view 
the land there and make report to the Court." 

The name of Mr. Andrew Hallet appears for the first time 
in the court record for the March term, a committee being 
raised to report whether "the proportions of the lands which 
he hath assumed to himself shall be prejudicial to the whole, 

' The location of this house was in a field belonging to Capt. Charles Basset, about 75 
yards north-westerly from the house of Mr. Joseph Hale. 



22 OLD YARMOUTH. 

that then some just and equal order may be taken thereon 
to prevent evil consequences to the whole plantation." Mr, 
Hallet's lands were subsequently confirmed to him. He was 
not, however, a resident here until the next year. 

At the April term of the court, it was "ordered, that 
whereas the lands at Mattacheese were granted to divers 
persons who long since should have inhabited upon them, 
the which they have not performed, and whereas the court is 
informed that those persons to whom they were first granted 
are not likely to inhabit them in their own persons, and lest 
such as there are should receive unto them unworthy 
persons, whereof the court hath lamentable experience, by 
committing the disposal of the land in like case, the Court 
doth order, that only such of them which at present are 
there shall remain and make use of some lands for their 
present necessity, but shall not divide any portions of lands 
there either to themselves or any other persons than such as 
were nominated at first, without special license or appoint- 
ment of the government, that such inconveniences may be 
prevented which in like cases have formerly happened." 
This order is said to have reference to the grant made to 
Mr. Callicut, of lands in Mattacheese, for at the May term 
the Court had ordered, that if he did not come in his own 
person to inhabit the land before the June term of the Court, 
his grant should be void. 

Thomas Payne and Philip Tabor were admitted as free- 
men, in June following. William Chase was chosen Con- 
stable, and Thomas Payne and Philip Tabor Deputies to the 
Court, the first representative assembly in the colony, which 
met the 4th of that month. William Clark took the oath of 
allegiance and fidelity in September, and was sworn to 
execute the office of Constable for the town. 

The legislation by the colony court relative to the town, 
the first year of its existence, enajDl||^ us to judge of its 
social and material condition. It was forbidden for any one 
dwelling here to purchase two house-lots or more and lay 



THE SETTLEMENT. 23 

them together and maintain but one house upon them. 
This was intended to make the settlements compact, as a 
matter of safety and precaution. The lots were laid out in 
furlongs, having various descriptive terms, like Rabbit 
furlong, Lone Tree furlong, and others, suggested by 
familiar objects. Yarmouth men were granted liberty to 
" keep their swine unwringed," " they keeping them with a 
herdsman until complaint be made of some hurt they have 
done." It was ordered that "a pair of stocks and a pound be 
erected, and that the Constable see it done, and have a war- 
rant to distrain such as shall refuse to pay what shall be 
assessed to the charge thereof." William Palmer was 
authorized to exercise the inhabitants in the use of arms. 

The first mention of the name of Yarmouth, as applied to 
this township, is found in the court record of January, 1639, 
in connection with the grant to Thacher, Howes and Crow, 
From the fact that this name was selected, it has been 
inferred that the settlers of this town came from Yarmouth, 
in England. This may have been true of some individual, 
but does not apply to the settlers as a body. They did not 
come from any single locality. Some were Eastern County 
men, some were from the Midland Counties, some from 
Wales, and others from the South of England. Yarmouth, 
the principal seaport on the eastern coast of England, was 
the place of embarkation and debarkation between that 
country and Holland, and was naturally associated in the 
minds of the Pilgrims with their experiences in the mother 
country. Hence, perhaps, the name. 

The pioneers of the town were soon joined by others, and 
before the close of 1640 not far from twenty-five families 
were established here. The region around " Stony Cove," 
now the " Mill Pond," was occupied by Andrew Hallet, Thom- 
as Starr, William Chase, Gyles Hopkins, Robert Dennis and 
Joshua Barnes. A .^ttle farther on, to the eastward, were 
the lands of Nicholas Simpkins and Anthony Thacher. 
Still farther east was the meeting-house and the lands of the 



24 OLD YARMOUTH. 

Rev. Marmaduke Matthews and Edward Sturges. At Nob- 
scLisset, Thomas Howes, William Lumpkin and John Crow 
had settled. At the extreme easterly part of the town Peter 
Warden, the elder and the younger, had established them- 
selves, in spite of the opposition of some of their associates, 
and here the former died the first year of the settlement. 
Around Bass Pond, famous then, as now, for its valuable 
fisheries, were the families of James Matthews, William 
Nickerson, Thomas Falland and Samuel Rider. Francis 
Baker built his house on the east side of Bass River, near 
the Pond. Yelverton Crow settled at "South Sea," in the 
vicinity of Hyannis Bay. Beside these, the names of Hugh 
Tilley, Phillip Tabor, and William Palmer occur in the records, 
as temporary or permanent residents. With the exception 
of the few settlements near the meadows, cleared lands of 
the Indians, the shores and water-courses, the town was a 
dense forest, inhabited by savages and wild beasts. 

The earliest highway in the settlement ran from Barnsta- 
ble by nearly the same course as is travelled at the present 
time, turning northerly to the eastward of Andrew Hallet's, 
over the marsh near the shore to the estate of Anthony 
Thacher, thence to the eastward, to the region of the meet- 
ing-house and old cemetery, thence southerly to White's 
brook, continuing on to Hockanom and Nobscusset, follow- 
ing as near as practicable to the borders of the marshes and 
shore. 

There exists no contemporary record of the earlier 
experiences of the settlers of this town. Their nearest 
neighbors, from four to five miles away, were fortunate in 
having, in their minister. Rev. John Lothrop, not only a 
wise and devoted pastor, but also an historian who left on 
record some account of their temporal as well as their spirit- 
ual progress. If the Yarmouth settlers were equally 
favored with their neighbors, they must have lived in the 
enjoyment of good health and rude comfort. The old fields 
at once yielded a crop of corn and vegetables. The coves 



THE SETTLEMENT. 2$ 

and ponds swarmed with fowl and fish, the shores were 
stocked with shell-fish, and the forests abounded with game. 
With an unfailing supply of food, and abundance 'of fuel close 
at hand, there could have been but little occasion for any 
privation of the necessaries 'of life. That their lot was a 
fortunate one for the times, is attested by the fact that their 
mortality reports are small, and that the succeeding years 
show a considerable accession to their numbers, of men of 
substance and exemplary character. 

It is safe to assume that the formation of the church was 
nearly coeval with the settlement of the town, as in other 
Puritan communities, but the loss of the records prevents 
our arriving at a knowledge of the exact date of its organiza- 
tion. Rev. Marmaduke Matthews, one of the first-comers, 
was the first minister. The first meeting-house probably 
stood on the southerly side of the old cemetery, on a little 
eminence called "Fort Hill," from the fact that the place 
was provided with some means of defence from attack. It 
was a building of rude construction, measuring thirty by 
forty feet, with about thirteen and a half feet posts, with a 
thatched roof ; was unplastered and unglazed ; the windows 
being of oiled paper. The frame is still in existence, in a 
dwelling house in town.' Rev. Timothy Alden, Jr., writing 
in 1797, states that within ten years the remains of the 
*' fort " were visible. At this time the " hill " itself is onl}^ 
such in name, the winds having reduced it to a level with 
the surrounding region. 

In this rude and uninviting spot the fathers and mothers 
of the new settlement met together to perform their acts of 
devotion. Hither came all the people, from the remote as 
well as the contiguous parts of the town ; from Quivet, 
Sesuet, Nobscusset, Hockanom, Bass Ponds, Stony Cove, 

• This frame is in the house now occupied by Hannah Crowell, If the critical observer 
■will give the frame of the easterly portion of this house a careful inspection, he will per* 
ceive that it was adapted to a different building. In company with the Hon. J. B. D. 
Cogswell, the writer some years ago examined this frame, and found the measurements to 
agree with the descriptions of the building. It is a most interesting relic of the olden time. 



26 OLD YARMOUTH. 

South Sea, — the Hallets, Halls, Howeses, Searses, Crows, 
Thachers and Sturgeses. Those who lived miles away, 
came in storm as well as sunshine ; at first on foot, but as 
animals increased, the better-conditioned came on horseback, 
— "riding and tying, " as it was termed — the man in front, 
with his musket, his good wife riding behind him. At the 
end of a couple of miles, they dismounted, tied their horse, 
walked on and gave place to those who had started ahead of 
them ; and in turn they resumed the saddle while the others 
walked. It would be pleasant to believe that all their 
exertion was rewarded by strong and invigorating spiritual 
food. But the discourses of Rev. Mr. Matthews appear to 
have been rather scattering and loose in point of style, 
and the poor old gentleman was charged with heresy, where 
he was nothing more than obscure; not being himself very 
well aware of the purport and tendency of his language. 
Some of the brethren rebelled against the misapplication of 
the King's English, and the pastor evidently lived a very 
jaded and disagreeable existence, during his stormy and 
ill-starred ministry. There seems really to have been no 
heresy or looseness of belief intended, in the discourses of 
Mr. Matthews ; only an inaccuracy of definitions and inexact 
itude in the application of terms. In an age when vigorous 
and direct Anglo-Saxon words were used to convey thoughts, 
language vvhich was susceptible of a double interpretation 
was not easily tolerated ; and this was the head and front of 
Mr. Matthews's offendinsf. 



CHAPTER IV. 
FORM OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT, COURTS, ETC. 

Change in the Fomi cf Government — The Laws — Towns in the Colony — The First 
Local Court — General Court held in Yarmouth — Report of the Proceedings — 
Eastern Boundary of the Town — Boundary Line between Yarmouth and Barn- 
stable — Judicial Decisions. 

THE year in which Yarmouth became one of the towns 
of Plymouth Colony, witnessed an important change 
in its form of government. Hitherto the Governor and 
Assistants, under the general name of " The Associates of 
the Colony of Plymouth, " were the Legislature. " These, " 
says Hutchinson, " were elected from the first rank. Even 
after the appointment of Deputies, the Governor and Assist- 
ants were the supreme judiciary power, sole in judging of 
high offences, and to them lay appeals from inferior jurisdic- 
tions, after lesser offences were made cognizable before 
inferior courts in civil matters. " The laws were few and 
were termed fundamental, but the court professed to be 
governed by the common law of England. They had passed 
statutes, concluded treaties with the Indians, and exercised 
all acts of sovereignty without interference from the mother 
country, and perhaps, because of their weakness and insig- 
nificance, failed to attract the attention of the home govern- 
ment. In 1638 the towns of the colony were authorized to 
send deputies to Plymouth for legislation, "to join with the 
bench to enact and make all such laws and ordinances as 
shall be deemed good and wholesome for the whole ; provided 
that the laws they do enact shall be propounded at one court 
to be considered of until the next, and to then be confirmed 
if they shall be approved of, except the case require present 



IS OLD YARMOUTH. 

confirmation. " But the bench retained the right tO' dismiss 
these Deputies or Committees "if they were found insuffi- 
cient or troublesome, " which is hardly consistent with the 
ideal of a free representative government. Deputies were 
sent in 1639 ^^ follows: Plymouth four, and two each from 
Duxbury, Scituate, Sandwich, Cohannet (Taunton) Yarmouth 
and Barnstable. 

In the year 1641, an inferior tribunal was established for 
the convenience of the three towns of Sandwich, Yarmouth 
and Barnstable. Mr. Thomas Dimmock of Barnstable, Mr. 
John Crowe of Yarmouth, joined with Mr. Edmund Freeman 
of Sandwich, who was one of the Assistants of the Governor, 
were appointed to hear and determine all causes and contro- 
versies within the three townships, not exceeding xx shillings. 
A special term of the colony court was held in this town 
June 17, 1 64 1, the following being a full report of the 
proceedings: 

Neii) Plym. S. S. — At a court held at Yarmouth, the 17th 
day of June, in the 17th year of the reign of our Sovereign 
Lord, Charles, by the grace of God of England, Scotland, 
France and Ireland, King, &c. before Edward Winslow, Miles 
Standish, and Edmund Freeman, gentlemen, three of the 
Assistants of the government aforesaid, by virtue of the order 
of the General Court of the first of June last past, whereby 
the said Winslow, Miles Standish, Edmund Freeman and 
John Browne, or any two or three of them, were authorized 
to set the bounds of Yarmouth and Barnstable, and to hear 
and determine all causes and controversies amongst the 
inhabitants of Yarmouth, Barnstable and Sandwich which 
shall come before them, &c. 

The differences betwixt Nicholas Sympkins and William 
Chase, by consent of both parties are referred to the arbitra- 
ment of Mr. Mayo and Mr. Thorn. Dimmack, and have entered 
into an assumpsit of j[,^ to each other to abide their award, 
and it's to be ended within a month next coming. 

A warrant granted to distrain 12s. upon Emanuel White 



FORM OF CI VI L GO VERNMENT, CO UR TS, ETC. 29 

for keeping cows, and upon Mr. Sympkins i6s., and Mr. 
Howes i6s. if M'ris Fuller will not pay the said i6s. for 
Howes. 

It is ordered by the Court that Mr. Andrew Hellot shall 
pay Massatumpaine one fadome of beads within two moons, 
besides the nett he alledgeth the said Massatumpaine sold 
him, for the deer that Mr. Hellot's son bought of him about 
two years since. 

It is ordered by the Court that Walter Devile shall pay to 
Massatumpaine for mending of the hole in his kettle, which 
the said Devile shot with his gun ; it's to be paid within one 
moon next ensuing. 

It is ordered by the Court that Nicholas Symkins save 
harmless the corn of Emanuel White, Thorn. Falland, Roger 
Ellis, and the rest that have planted within that fence which 
they pay for the making of. 

Whereas there was complaint made by William Chase, 
that Nicholas Symkins had so set his fence that he hath 
taken in some small part of the lands of the said William 
Chase, which upon view appeared to be so — it is now order- 
ed and concluded by the Court that notwithstanding the 
fence shall stand as it is now set, and that Mr. Anthony 
Thacher, for peace sake, will allow the said William Chase 
as much land out of his own lands, of those lands which lie 
next to the said Chase's lands, and the land so taken by 
Nicholas Symkins aforesaid shall be his owne. And the 
said Nicholas Symkins is to allov/ the said Chase a little 
parcel of meadow lying next to the said Chase, from the end 
of his fence by a straight line to a creek easterly, provided 
that the said William Chase do fence in the same by March 
next ensuing. 

It is also ordered and concluded that the inhabitants of 
the town of Yarmouth shall presently meet together and 
make a rate for the defraying of all the public charges which 
have been laid forth by any particular person or persons for 
the good of the whole, save that in committee charges 



30 OLD YARMOUTH. 

where William Chase, Thomas Howes and Joshua Barnes 
were sent as committees for the town, these are to be exempt- 
ed out of those rates, viz : Mr. Matthews, William Palmer, 
Thomas Payne, Anthony Thacher, Thom. Falland, Emanuel 
White and Thomas Starr ; but in all other rates to be rated 
proportionably with the rest of the inhabitants ; and that by 
virtue of this order it shall be lawful for the constable to dis- 
train all such persons as shall refuse to pay the sums they are 
rated unto. 

It is ordered by the Court that the meadow appointed to 
Mr. Hellot's farm shall be laid forth by the committees 
according to his grant. 

It is ordered also by the Court that the several propor- 
tions of land allotted unto the inhabitants shall presently be 
laid forth by the committees to the several persons to whom 
they are so granted. 

It is ordered by the Court that William Lumpkin and 
Hugh Tilly shall pay to Gabriel Wheildon 15s. for his third 
part of the skiff or boat (they were partners in,) and his 
damage sustained in the want thereof to fetch fish to fish 
his corn withal, and the boat or skiff to be theirs. 

It is ordered by the Court that Mr. Thom. Starr shall have 
two acres of land in some convenient place assigned him, for 
one acre of his land given to the town to get clay upon. 

It is ordered and concluded upon by the joint consent of 
all the inhabitants of Yarmouth that Captain Standish shall 
be joined to the committees of the said town of Yarmouth 
for the disposing of lands there, and that not any lands here- 
after be granted or laid forth without his consent, and that 
all lands hereafter to be laid forth shall be assigned to every 
person by lot, except those which are already granted and 
assigned in particular, whereof sale and exchange have been 
made. 

THE BOUNDS OF YARMOUTH. 

The bounds of Yarmouth on the easterly side are from the 
town to a certain brook called by the Indians Shuckquam, 



FORM OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT, COURTS, ETC z\ 

but by the English Boundbrooke, and all that neck of land 
northward called by the Indians Atquiod, als. Aquiatt, with 
all the uplands and marsh meadows which lye on the wester- 
ly side, of the said brook to the townwards unto the mouth of 
said brook. And from a marked tree at the path over the 
said Bound brook by a straight line south and by east to the 
South Sea, so it extend not in length above eight miles, 
excepting and reserving unto Massatanpaine, the sachem, the 
lands from Nobscusset pan, westerly from a marked tree 
there unto another marked tree at a swamp extending west- 
erly, and from thence to another marked tree northerly by a 
straight line to the sea, and from the northerly end of the 
said Nobscusset pan to the sea, by a line from the westerly 
side of the said pan [pond.] 

The bounds betwixt Yarmouth and Barnstable are as fol- 
loweth, viz: That the river of Stony Cove shall be the bounds 
from the sea as far as it runneth to the landwards, and from 
thence, from the upward part thereof, to begin at the easter- 
ly side of the lot of Andrew Hellot, at a known marked tree, 
by the highway leading betwixt Barnstable and Yarmouth 
aforesaid, and from the easterly side of the upward part of 
the said lot to run upon the south- south-west point of the 
compass to the South Sea, provided always that the meadow- 
land that was alloted and appointed to the said Mr. Hellot's 
farm be still reserved unto the said farm according to the 
former intent and grant thereof. Excepting and reserving 
unto Nepaiton and Twacommacus and their heirs and assigns, 
if they shall dwell upon it, all that parcel of playne land bor- 
dering to the seawards from a pond to a tree by the wood 
side, marked by Mr. Winslow, Capt. Standish and Mr. Free- 
man, and from thence easterly by the wood side to another 
marked tree, and from thence northerly to the sea, provided 
that if the said Nepaiton shall at any time sell the same he 
shall sell it to the inhabitants of Barnstable before any other. ' 

* We quote the Court records. There are great variations in the spelling of proper 
names, in this and other writings of the time. 



32 OLD YARMOUTH. 

This action of the court deprived Yarmouth of nearly a 
mile of her territory, in breadth from east to west. The ju- 
risdiction of the town had before extended to what has since 
been known as " Indian Lane," in Barnstable. The com- 
mittee " appointed to set forth the bounds between Matta- 
cheese and Mattacheeset," probably found that there was as 
little difference in the two, as there was in the name, and as 
Stony Cove and the river running from it were natural 
boundaries, adopted them as the starting line. 

In September following the court ordered that "Mr. Ed^ 
mund Freeman, one of the Assistants, shall at the next court 
holden towards Yarmouth and Barnstable, inflict such pun- 
ishment upon Mr. Crow's maid servant, for pilfering goods 
in his house, as according to her fault shall be just and 
equal." Thus the magistrate exercised the triple function 
of legislator, judge and executive. 

In the administration of the laws little partiality was 
shown, and the code was so severe that it is not strange that 
men of good character, but of implusive temperaments, should 
have been found transgressing. Thus Mr. Nicholas Simp- 
kins, a leading citizen, was arraigned for lending a pistol to 
an Indian, which was remitted the same term; and John Gray 
was imprisoned "for swearing. " The violation of the laws 
of chastity, even in the least degree, was severely dealt with, 
the punishment for such offences varying from a fine to 
burning of letters in the face. 



CHAPTER V. 
SECULAR AFFAIRS AND CHURCH TROUBLES. 

Town Officers and Assessments — Freemen admitted — Apportionment — A Law 
Case — Indian Hostilities Appreliended — List of Persons Capable of Bearing 
Arms — List of Freemen — Charges of the Troops — Nauset a Town — Indians 
Complained of by Mt. Sears — Church Troubles — Mr. Matthews and Wm. Chase — 
Chase, Starr, Nickerson and others complained of, as Jeerers and Scoffers — The 
Hull Schism — Mr. Miller's Settlement — Church Council called — John Elliott, the 
Apostle to the Indians, in Yarmouth — His Labors and Trials — Christianity Taught 
Here, by a Shipwrecked French Crew. 

THE records of the Colony Court contain further refer- 
ences during the coming years, to the progress of the 
settlement and growth of the town. 

In 1641 Edward Sturgis was sworn as Constable ; John 
Crow and Richard Hore were the Committee of the town ; 
William Clark and Emanuel White, Surveyors of Highways ; 
Joshua Barnes and William Nickerson were propounded as 
Freemen. Francis Baker, cooper, was admitted to dwell in 
Yarmouth, but not to have any of the lands assigned former- 
ly to others, without their consent. The first general assess- 
ment of the colony, of record, was made June of this year, 
for the payment of the clerk and messenger of the Colony 
Court. The sum was ;!^ 25, and the relative ability of the 
several towns may be inferred from the apportionment. Of 
this sum Plymouth was assessed ^C 5 ; Duxbury ;^ 3 : 10 ; 
Scituate £4; Sandwich ;£ 3 ; Taunton £ 2 : 10 ; Barnstable 
£2:10; Yarmouth ;^ 2 : 10 ; Rexhame (Marshfield) £ 2. 
Mr. Marmaduke Matthews, Thomas Falland, Richard Hore 
and William Newland were admitted as Freemen and sworn 
Sept. 7. At the next court Francis Linceford complained 
that Thomas Bray of Yarmouth had detained certain goods 



34 OLD YARMOUTH. 

of said Linceford's in his hands, and the court ordered that 
Mr. Thacher, Mr. Nicholas Simpkins and Richard Hore see 
that said Bray deliver all the rest of the goods of said Lince- 
ford which are in his hands, except one white rug, one bed and 
bolster, sword, musket, bandiliers, four iron wedges, one 
hogshead, one tub, one kettle and two iron rings, which were^ 
made over to said Bray upon condition that he should pay 
13 shillings to persons to whom he was indebted when he 
went to the West Indies. This transaction shows the value 
of money in those times. " Edward Morrell, late of Yar- 
mouth, laborer, indicted for stealing certain corn, for [from.-*] 
Robert Dennis there, is found guilty, but is run avv-ay." 

In 1642 hostile designs were apprehended from the Indians, 
and thirty men were raised by the colony to go upon an 
expedition against them, two being required from Yarm.outh. 
Mr. Anthony Thacher was a member of the Council of War. 
The town was presented for v/ant of a pound. Emanuel 
White was admitted as a freeman. 

The apprehensions excited of danger from the Indians not 
being allayed, stringent laws were passed in 1643 against 
selling them arms, and regulations were made for establish- 
ing military discipline. " Provision was made for Yarmouth 
and Barnstable appointing a place for the defence of them- 
selves, their wives and children, in case of sudden assault." 
The following list of persons in town capable of bearing 
arms, gives some data for estimating the number of inhabi- 
tants of the town : 

Anthony Berry, Sam'l Hallett, 

Thomas Boreman, Richard Hoar, 

Jas. Bursell, Thos. Howes, 

Jno. Burstall, Tristram Hull, 

Wm. Chase, Sr., ...John Joyce, 

Wm. Chase, Jr., Wm. Lumpkin, 

Dan'l Cole, * Jas. Matthews, 

Job Cole, Mr. Mar. Matthews, 

John Crowe, Wm. Nicorson, 

Yelverton Crowe, Hugh Norman, 



SECULAR AFFAIRS AND CHURCH TROUBLES. 35 



Rob't Davis, 
Rob't Dennis, 
John Derby, 
Wm. Edge, [Hedge?] 
Roger Else, 
Tiiomas Falland, 
Thomas Flawne, 
Wm. Grause, 
John Gray, 
Benj. Hammon, 
Andrew Hallet, Sr., 
And., Hallet Jr., 
Hugh Tilley, 
William Twining, 
Henry Whelden, 
Sam'I Williams, 



Wm. Norcutt, 
Wm. Palmer, 
Thos. Payne, 
Wm. Pearse, 
Rd. Pritchett, 
Sam'I Ryder, 
Richard Sears, 
Thomas Starr, 
Edward Sturgis, 
Nicholas Sympkins, 
Richard Taylor, 
Richard Templar, 
Anthony Thacher, 
Nich's Wadibone, 
Emanuel White, 
Peter Worden. 



Assuming that there were four women, children and aged 
men to each person capable of bearing arms — not an extrav- 
agant estimate — and we have a population of two hundred 
and fifty, four years after the settlement. At the August 
term of the court the towns of Yarmouth and Barnstable 
were " given until the next court to mend their highways, or 
be lined. " Mr. Anthony Thacher was licensed to draw wine 
in Yarmouth. 

The following list of the Freemen of the town of the same 
date, shows that the theory that voting and fighting are coin- 
cident duties, had not then obtained a recognition : 



Thomas Payne, 

Philip Tabor, 

Mr. Anthony Thacher, 

Mr. John Crowe, 

Wm. Palmer, 

Wm. Nicholson, 

Mr. Marmaduke Matthews, 

Thomas Falland, 
In a record of 1645, of "soldiers sent out against the 
Narragansetts, in the late expedition, " the following list 
occurs : " From Yarmouth were William Northcoate, William 
Twining, Teague Jones, Henry Whelden, William Chase, 
fourteen days. " The latter was a drummer. All returned 



Richard Hore, 
Emanuel White, 
James Matthews, 
Richard Prichard, 
Edmund Hawes, 
Daniell Cole, 
Job Cole, 
Thomas Howes. 



36 OLD YARMOUTH. 

Sept. 2, and were mustered out the next day. There was 
delivered to each soldier on going forth, i lb. powder, 3 lbs. 
bullets, I lb. tobacco. The charge to the colony for this 
expedition was -[, 66 : 33. Of this sum the proportion of 
Yarmouth was ^7:26. The soldiers saw but little service ; 
they advanced as far as Rehoboth, when, peace being con- 
cluded, they returned. 

In 1646 Edward Sturgis was licensed "to keep an ordi- 
nary and draw wine, provided Mr. Thacher draw out his." 
Nauset, embracing the entire territory below Yarmouth, was 
made a township, being the ninth in the Colony. The name 
was changed to Eastham in 165 1. Mr. Prince and Mr. 
Anthony Thacher were this year appointed by the court to 
try the case of Nepoytan, Sachamus and Felix, Indians, 
against whom complaints had been made by Mr. Richard 
Sears, of Yarmouth. No report of their decision is extant. 

CHURCH TROUBLES. 

The settlement of the town had hardly commenced before 
difficulties sprung up in the church. As early as Oct. 1639, 
the court record says, "Edward Morrell being sworn, depos- 
eth and saith, that -William Chase- -(at his return home from 
the court, when Mr. Matthews and he were together) did 
report that Mr. Matthews had nothing to say for himself, 
and that he marvelled how any durst join with him in the 
fast ; and further said that some being in presence with the 
magistrate, did hold up his hand and cried, ' Fie ! for 
shame! ' " Mr. Chase had been appointed Constable in June 
preceding, and superseded in September, presumably for 
opposition to Mr. Matthews. He was subsequently arraign- 
ed for his language towards the minister, was censured by 
the court, ordered to find sureties, and to depart the place in 
six months. Dr. Thomas Starr and Mr. Andrew Hallet 
became his sureties, but the sentence of the court was never 
carried out. The next year after the trouble with Chase, 
Thomas Starr, Hugh Tilley, Joshua Barnes and William 



SECULAR AFFAIRS AND CHURCH TROUBLES, n 

Nickerson were complained of as "scoffers and jeerers at 
religion and making disorders in the town-meeting," the plain 
English of which was, that they were opposed to Mr. Mat- 
thews ; and they were sent for, and called upon to answer to 
the court, but were acquitted. The trouble did not end 
here. Rev. Joseph Hull, who had exercised the office of 
minister at Barnstable before Mr. Lothrop came to the place, 
was invited to preach in Yarmouth, by those who were 
dissatisfied with Mr. Matthews's ministry, with which invita- 
tion he complied. Mr. Hull was thereupon excommunicated 
by the Barnstable church, " for wilfully breaking his commun- 
ion with us and joining himself with a company at Yarmouth 
to be their pastor, contrary to the advice and counsel of our 
church. " The court ordered that a warrant be issued to 
some constable at Yarmouth to apprehend Mr. Hull, if he 
should attempt to exercise the ministry or administer the 
seals, and to bring him before the court ; but Mr. Hull 
desisted, acknowledged his error, and was received again 
into fellowship with the church. This did not, however, end 
the troubles, for they continued to exist, under differing 
phases, and with great bitterness of feeling, for many suc- 
ceeding years. 

About the year 1647 Mr. John Miller became the minister 
of the church in this town. The date of Mr. Matthews's 
severance of his relations with this people is not known. 
The record of the university at Oxford says, he " preached at 
Yarmouth from 1639 till 1643, " and there is reason for the 
belief that he remained here imtil about a year previous to 
Mr. Miller's coming. Mr. Miller found a serious schism in 
existence, growing out of the difificulties engendered during 
Mr. Hull's abortive attempt to establish a rival society. 
Accordingly, a council was called, consisting of the most dis- 
tinguished ministers in the Plymouth colony, together with 
the leading ministers of Massachusetts : John Wilson, of the 
First church, Boston ; Thomas Shepard, Cambridge ; and 
John Elliott, of Roxbury, called the apostle to the Indians. 



38 OLD YARMOUTH. 

They came here, says Shepard, in the last part of the yeaf of 
1647, "to hear and heal (if it were the will of Christ,) the 
differetice and sad breaches which have been too long time 
among them, wherein the Lord was very merciful to us and 
them in binding them Up beyond our thoughts in a very short 
time, in giving not only that bruised church but the whole 
town also, a hopeful beginning of settled peace and future 
quietness." The result however, was not entirely 
satisfactory, for the fires of controversy, though smothered 
awhile, were soon kindled anew. In 1657, Emanuel White, a 
prominent citizen of the toWn, and Robert Allen, also of the 
town, were at the court for "villifying the ministry of Mr. 
Miller," atid at the next term, the enemies of the pastor had 
him in turii cited "to answer for remarks in a sermon against 
the gover'tlmeiit, *' aiid the next year the court instructed the 
jury in reference to this matter, "to rnake due inquify to vin-- 
dicate the government. " Traces of this discontent existed 
Until the Incumbency of Mr. Miller's successor, and came 
near preventing his settlement. 

Mr. Elliott embraced the opportunity offered by his visit 
here to commence his work of Christian propagandism among 
the native inhabitants. He found a difficulty in the differ- 
ence of dialect of the Indians here and those in the vicinity 
of Boston. He, however, overcame the difficulty, and sue- 
ceeded in making himself understood. He met with a great 
deal of opposition from a sachem called by the English Jehu, 
On account of his fierce ahd furious spirit. This intractable 
savage promised to attend divine service and bring his men 
with him, but instead of doing so sent them away, under 
various pretexts. He himself went, though too late, to the 
service, but pretended not to understand, although some of 
the Indians asserted that he was shamming. The perplexity 
and annoyance of the preachers from his behavior was very 
great. Another sachem, however, was more tractable, and 
lent a willing ear to their discourse. An aged Indian here 
Communicated the information before given to the expedition 



SECULAR AFFAIRS AND CHURCH TROUBLES. 39 

that visited Mattacheese in 1621, that the doctrines taught 
by Elliott had been promulgated before the coming of the 
Pilgrims, by the crew of a French ship wrecked on Cape Cod. 
Of the results of Elliott's labors here we have no reliable n- 
formation, which leads to the conclusion that they were not 
fraught with any important consequences. 



CHAPtEk Vl. 
SETTLEMENT OF LAND TITLES. 

I'he several Committees appointed to Divide the Lands— Capt. Standish in Yavmoutii-^ 
He acts in his usual decisive manner — Provisions for Future Difficulties. 

THE year 1648 witnessed the termination of a bitter 
controversy which had existed from the beginning of 
the settlement, respecting the title to lands in this town. The 
nature of the disagreement will be best understood by a 
review of the previous action oi the court, and of the several 
committees appointed by it, by the proprietors and by the 
townsmen ; and in doing so it will be necessary to traverse 
some of the ground already gone over. Anthony Thacher, 
John Crow and Thomas Howes, to whom the lands in Matta^ 
cheeset were granted, for themselves and their associates, were 
appointed by the court the first land committee, and were 
instructed "to make an equal division of the lands now to be 
divided at the first division there, to each man according to 
his estate and quality, according to their instructions." 

To perform their diity satisfactorily was a inanifest impos-= 
sibility. The Indiari fields or cleared uplands were not extent 
sive, and for the committee to divide them "according to 
their instructions " necessarily created jealousy atid dissatis^ 
faction. The committee had to estimate each man's estate, 
ills quality, or tile value of the service he had rendered of 
probably would render to the colony. The first could easily 
be done, blit the last was beyond the capacity of any set of 
men to perform in a manner which would be generally acqui- 
esced in. The inhabitants naturally complained to the court, 
and March ist, 1639, ^^^^ court added to the committee, Mr, 



SETTLEMENT OE LAND TTTLES. 4* 

Nicholas Simpkins, William Palmer, Philip Tabor and Joshua 
fearnes, townsmen of Yarmouth. This action of the court 
■and the dissatisfaction of the townsmen, does not necessarily 
imply censure upon the committee ; it simply shows that they 
were intrusted with a responsibility vvhich, in its nature, was 
not susceptible of being satisfactorily discharged. 

In the record of the Court of March, 1640, it is set forth 
that, "whereas, Mr. Thacher, Mr. Crow and Mf. Howes, the 
Committee of Yarmouth, were complained of to have made 
unequal divisions of lands there, whereupon the committees 
have exhibited a very formal division of the said lands, unto 
the court, which is well approved of, and the court doth 
further order that the said committees shall receive no more 
inhabitants Unto the said town except chey bring certificate 
from the places whence they came, under sufficient men's 
hands of said places, of their religious and honest carriage, 
\vhich certificate shall first be allowed by the Governor and 
Assistants before such jDcrsons be admitted there." 

But this did not satisfy the townsmen, and at a court held 
in Yarmouth, as has been before stated, on the 17th of June 
1642, before Edward Winslow, Miles Standish and Edmund 
Freeman, gentlemen, three of the Assistants of the govern- 
ment, it was "ordered and concluded upon by the joint con- 
sent of all the inhabitants of Yarmouth, that Capt. Standish 
shall be joined to the Committees of said town, for the dispos- 
ing of lands there, and that not any lands hereafter be granted 
or laid forth without his consent, and that all lands hereafter 
to be laid forth, shall be assigned to every person by lot, 
except those which are already granted and assigned, in par- 
ticular, whereof sale and exchange have been made." 

The assignment by lot was a more equitable mode, espe- 
cially among those having an equal claim, than grants by a 
committee. But the difficulty concerning the first grants still 
continued, and in 1648 Capt. Standish was authorized by the 
court to " have the hearing and put an end to all differences 
as do remain in the town of Yarmouth." On the 13th of 



42 OLD YARMOUTH. 

May he heard and decided a great number, of cases. He 
certainly evinced great boldness and decision, and went 
to the root of the matter. Many parties were ejected from 
lands claimed and occupied by them. Most of the former 
grants of uplands and meadows were abrogated, and the lands 
reverted to the possession of the town. Mr. Thacher, Mr. 
Howes and Mr. Crow, "in consideration of their charges 
about the discovering, purchase and other charges by them 
disbursed about the same," claimed and took up more land 
than the townsmen thought just. Mr. Thacher had taken up 
1 30 acres of upland and 26 acres of meadow. He was allowed 
no acres of upland and 26 acres of meadow. Mr. Howes 
and Mr. Crow had taken up each 100 acres of upland and 20 
acres of meadow. Each was allowed fourscore acres of 
upland and 20 acres of meadow. 

The adjudications and assignments of lands by Capt. 
Standish, as spread out on the records of the court, are 
made with great particularity, but are unintelligible to this 
generation, and affected the titles of the following persons: 
Thomas Payne, Mr. Hawes, Robert Dennis, Thomas Flawne, 
Andrew Hallet, Mr. Gray, Mr. Howes, Mr. Crow, Mr. Thach- 
er, Richard Templar, Goodman Clarke, Mr. Nickerson, John 
Darby, Richard Hore. Incidental reference is made to 
Goodman Chase, Peter Worden, Wm. Chase, Edward Stur- 
^■es, Gabriel Wheildin, Mr. Matthews, the late Thomas Hatch, 
Mr. Lumkin, Goodman Pritchards, Thomas Burman, and Mr, 
Simkins. Also "it is ordered by the court that Mr. Miller be 
sufficiently accommodated." " Thus was settled all grievances 
about the laying out of lands, from the beginning of the 
plantation, to the 13th day of May, 1648." 

Capt. Standish having satisfactorily executed his commis- 
sion, on the 15th of May the following agreement was enter- 
ed into to provide a remedy for any differences that might 
thereafter arise: "It is agreed by Capt. Standish, Mr. Crow, 
Mr. Thacher, and Mr. Howes, the committees of the Planta- 
tion, of Yarmouth, and Richard Hore, Mr. Hawes, William 



SETTLEMENT OF LAND TITLES. 43 

Nickerson, William Palmer, and Robert Dennis in the behalf 
of the town, that Mr. Starre, William Nickerson and Robert 
Dennis shall be joined to the committees for the present 
year, and thenceafter by the town, they have their liberty to 
choose other three committees aforesaid ; so that the commit- 
tees shall not hereafter dispose of any lands, either uplands or 
meadows, without the consent of those three or two of them ; 
and if any difference arise between them which they cannot 
compose themselves, that they repair to Capt. Standish for 
directions," 



CHAPTER VII. 
THE FIRST COMERS. 

Anthony Thacher — John Crow — Thomas Howes — Andrew Hallet — Andrew Hallet, 
Jr. — Marmaduke Matthews — Edward Sturges — Edmund Hawes — Richard Sears 

— Thomas Starr — William Chase — Samuel Rider — John Gorham — Robert Den- 
nis — Wm. Nickerson — John Hall — James Matthews — Richard Taylors — William 
Hedge — Francis Baker — Peter Worden, Sr. and Jr. — John and Joshua. Barnes — 
William and Robert Eldridge — John Joyce — Richard Berry — Philip Tabor — 
Samuel Arnold — Thomas Boardman — Thomas Falland — William Palmer — Ga- 
briel Whelden — Thomas Payne - Rev. John Miller — Richard H ore — John Gray 

— Yelverton Crow. 



THE settlement of the town being accomplished, and the 
differences growing out oftheoccupancy of the lands happi- 
ly adjusted, so that each man's possession in the soil was defin- 
ed beyond controversy, we pause awhile in the narrative, to 
inquire what manner of men comprised the First Comers of 
Yarmouth. The material for forming a correct estimate 
of them in every particular is scant, and in some respects 
unsatisfactory, and in most cases we must rest content with a 
mere outline of their lives and antecedents on the other side 
of the water, referring the inquirer to the facts disclosed in 
succeeding pages for a fuller developement of their distin- 
guishing qualities. The town was fortunate in the character 
of the men who were in a controlling position at the period 
of the settlement, and, in an especial manner, in that of the 
the three Grantees, Anthony Thacher, John Crow and 
Thomas Howes. 

ANTHONY THACHER. 

Mr. Anthony Thacher, it is believed, was born in Somer- 
setshire County, England, about the year 1589. In 1610 he 



THE FIRST COMERS. 45 

was in Leyden, with the English congregation, where he 
remained about twenty years. In 1633 and 1634 he served 
as curate, to his brother, Peter, who was rector of the 
church of the parish of St. Edmunds, at Salisbury, County of 
Wiltz. Though an ardent Separatist, he, for this short peri- 
od, found it consistent to act in this capacity, for a congre- 
gation of strong Puritan tendencies. April 6, 1635, he 
sailed in the ship James, Wm. Cooper, master, from South- 
ampton, for New England, with Thomas, son of his brother, 
Peter, (who was afterwards the pastor of Old South church, 
in Boston,) then a youth of fifteen, arriving in Newbury, in 
Massachusetts, in June of that year. In the list of passen- 
gers of this vessel, as it appears in the Admiralty office, he 
is entered as "Anthony Thacher of Sarum, tailor." This 
was done to elude the vigilance of the authorities, which 
would beset the embarkation of one having ecclesiastical 
orders. In August, 1635, Mr. Thacher, with his family, his 
cousin, Rev. John Avery and family, and other connections, 
sailed from Ipswich in a bark bound to Marblehead. A 
great storm arose, the tide rising twenty feet. Their vessel 
was driven upon a rock on an, island which now bears the 
name of Thacher, and his four children were drowned, he 
and his wife being the only ones saved of a company of 
twenty-three. For a short time after the disaster he resided 
at Marblehead, and "the court, in consideration of his losses, 
granted him twenty-six pounds, thirteen shillings and fore- 
pence." " Divers good people also ministered to his necessi- 
ties." A curious record of the Essex County court, in 
connection with Mr. Thacher, has recently come to light.' 
The court was held the 4th month, 13th, 1639, John Win- 
throp, senior, Governor ; John Endicott, Colonel ; John 
Winthrop, junior. Lieutenant Colonel, and other magistrates 
being present. "A complaint was brought in by Mr. 
Anthony Thacher, against Jane James, for things taken forth 
of his house which she had received." She was bouhd to 

' Hist. Col. of Essex Institute, Salem, vol. 7, p 191. 



46 OLD YARMOUTH. 

good behavior for twelve months, her husband being her 
surety, in the sum of three shillings, the boys [who commit- 
ted the theft] "to be whipped by the governor of the family 
where they had offended." This shows that Mr. Thacher, 
though nominally of Yarmouth, had not removed his family 
to his new home. He came to Yarmouth, early in 1639, 
establishing his dwelling by the borders of the meadows in 
the northwest part of the town, as one of the founders of a 
new settlement. He was honored and trusted by his gener- 
ation, for his piety and wisdom, and died in 1667, aged nearly 
of forescore years. His descendants, some of whom dwell 
on the ancestral acres, are numerous and respected, and have 
for seven or eight generations exercised a wide influence in 
the affairs of the town and State. His first wife died in 1634, 
and for a second wife he married EHzabeth Jones, six v^eeks 
previous to sailing for New England. His children who sur- 
vived him were, John, born in Marblehead, March 7, 1639; 
Judah, born in Yarmouth, who died Nov. 4, 1676; Bethia, 
who married Jabez Howland, and removed to Rhode Island. 
Mr. Thacher was for many years one of the Deputies to the 
Colony Court, Land Committee and Town Clerk. He was 
appointed one of the Council of War, during the apprehended 
hostilities with the Narragansett Indians. The town, for his 
services as Land Committee, granted him a lot of meadow, 
containing some twenty acres, located to the southeast of 
the present wharves, which was known by the name of "The 
Reward." The liberality of the gift is not to be measured 
by the present value of such property. A descendant in 
Yarmouth still retains a scarlet broadcloth cradle coverlet, 
said to have, been wrapped around one of the children who 
perished in the shipwreck of 1635. Mr. Thacher was buried 
near a pear-tree a short distance from his house, which 
tradition says, was planted with his own hands, and which is 
still standing, but the precise spot of sepulture cannot now 
be identified. 



THE FIRST COMERS. 47 

JOHN CROW. 

Mr. John Crow was in Charlestown in 1635, and was ad- 
mitted as an inhabitant there. The tradition respecting his 
family is that it is of Welch origin. He came to this town 
with Mr. Thacher and Mr. Howes, in 1639, ^"^^^ ^"^^ ^^ ^'''*^ 
first Land Committee, and a Deputy to the Colony Court for 
several terms. In 1640, in connection with Mr. Edmund 
Freeman of Sandwich, one of the Assistants, and Mr. Thom- 
as Dimmock of Barnstable, he was selected as a member of 
a court to try cases involving not over twenty shillings, — the 
first local judicial establishment in the County. He was a 
Puritan of the strictest sect. He died January, 1673. His 
house, which stood about an eighth of a mile north of the 
meeting-house in Dennis, remained for nearly two centuries. 
It was constructed of large pieces of timber for sills and 
plates, with boarding each side filled in with small stones and 
clay. This formed the walls of the house, which was plas- 
tered with shell mortar, inside and out. From his sons, 
John, Samuel and Thomas, and perhaps others, have sprung 
a numerous and useful progeny. The name was sometimes 
spelled Crowe, and began to be written Crowell in about the 
third generation. 

THOMAS HOWES. /i^>^'^ 

Nothing is known of Mr. Howes before his coming to this 
country, neither have we any knowledge in what part of 
England he originated. He was in Salem in 1635, and in J 
Yarmouth in 1639, ^s one of the original grantees of the 
town, where, in connection with Mr. Thacher and Mr. 
Crow, he commenced the settlement, establishing himself in 
that part of the present town of Dennis, called " New Bos- 
ton." He took the oath of allegiance in Jan. of that year. 
He was one of the first committee to divide the planting 
lands, at the first division, a Constable in 1644, and of the 
Council of War in 1658. He was frequently one of the 
Deputies to the Colony Court, but was evidently disinclined 



,y^ 



4S OLD YARMOUTH. 

to public service. The best men of those times avoided, as 
far as possible, the holding of olifice. Early in the history of 
the Colony it was enacted, that " if at any time any shall be 
elected to the office of Governor and will not hold according 
to the election, that then he be amerced in ;^20 sterling 
fine." "That if any elected to the office of Assistant refuse 
to hold according to election, that then he be amerced ;^io 
fine." Mr. Howes was once fined for not attending Court, 
but the fine was remitted, he presenting a valid excuse. He 
died in 1665, shortly before his associate, Mr. Thacher. 
That he was a man of much influence, great maturity of judg- 
ment, and of considerable importance in the Colony, is suffi- 
ciently attested. His sons were, Joseph, Thomas, (known 
as " Captain") and Jeremiah, from whom have descended a 
numerous progeny, embracing many persons of usefulness 
and distinction in the community. 

On the eastern declivity of a hill to the northeast of the 
family seat of Thomas Howes, is the burial place of himself 
and many of his descendants. In the enclosure is a granite 
shaft, reared by the reverence of his posterity, bearing the 
following inscription : 

Thomas Howes 

married Mary Burr ; 

emigrated in 1637 from England, 

and brought three sons, viz : 

Thomas, Joseph, and Jeremiah, who was born 

on the passage. 

This monument erected in 1836. 

Descendants living in Dennis, 345 ; in Chatham, 

133 ; in other places, 396. 

ANDREW HALLET. 

Mr. Andrew Hallet, ancestor of the Yarmouth and Barn- 
stable families of that name, came over about the year 1637, 
and soon after took up his residence in Plymouth. He was 
among the very earliest of the first-comers to Yarmouth, but 
did not make this a permanent place of residence until 1641. 



THE FIRST COMERS. 49 

Lichford, in his ''Plain DcaHj:g," styles him a school-master. 
Mr. Hallet had an eye for good lands, and it was made a 
matter of complaint against him to the court, that he had 
" assumed to himself" some two hundred acres of the best 
land in town, but his right to it was afterwards confirmed. 
His farm, which was then in Yarmouth, is now comprised in 
the north-westerly part of Yarmouth and the north-easterly 
portion of Barnstable, and the boundary stone of the south- 
easterly corner, marked F, is now a portion of the wall on 
the southwestern side of Long Pond, the oldest known mon- 
ument in town. Nov. 25, 1639, ^^ bought for £10 of Dr. 
Thomas Starr, seventeen acres of land in two divisions and 
twelve acres of meadow, with the frame of a house, " to be 
made and set with a chimney, and to be thached, studded 
and latched (daubing excepted) by William Chase," who had 
agreed, for ;C^, with Dr. Starr, to do the work. This house-- 
lot was in the north-west corner of Yarmouth, on the county 
road. In 1641 Mr. Hallet mortgaged his farm to Wm. Paddy 
and Wm. Hanbury to secure debts of £,$ 4s., and 29s., re- 
spectively, as he was going to England and was unable to 
pay them. This indicates that he was not a man of large es- 
tate. After his return from England he lived in Yarmouth 
three years, certainly, and probably until his death, which oc- 
curred in 1648. Mr. Hallet was on several occasions a party 
to suits in the courts^ and invariably on the losing side, a 
circumstance which may indicate that he was invariably 
wrong or that the courts were partial or prejudiced. The 
general judgment will be that he was somewhat headstrong 
and self-willed. That he was a man of liberal and benevo- 
lent inclinations will seem evident from the following entry 
on the court records : 

" A^ew Plym. SS. At the General Court, etc., holden 
the fifth day of March, in the 19th day of his said Majesty's 
reign, of England, etc., before William Bradford, gent.. Gov- 
ernor," etc., etc. 

"Whereas information is given to the Court that there is a 



50 OLD YARMOUTH. 

cow or a heifer in calve given or disposed by Mr. Andrew 
Hellot senr. of Yarmouth, for the benefit of the poor of the 
said town of Yarmouth, which for the ordering thereof was 
referred to the Court by the said Mr. Hellot by his letter 
under his hand, and bearing the date the first day of March, 
1643 : The Court doth therefore order that the said cow or 
heifer in calve shall be on May day next delivered to Thomas 
Payne of Yarmouth, who shall have her for three years next 
ensuing and the milk and one half of the increase during that 
time, and after the said three years are expired, the poor of 
Yarmouth shall have her, and the increase to be disposed of 
by the townsmen of Yarmouth from time to time to other 
poor persons dwelling in the said town as they shall think fit, 
and for such terme, reserving the benefit of the said stock 
for the benefit of their poor, and not to be alienated to any 
other use." 

A person in our times who should present the poor a cow, 
would not be considered remarkably liberal. But in those 
days, when cattle were very valuable, v/hen a cow was worth 
a good-sized farm, or equal in value to the wages of a laborer 
for a whole year, the gift may be regarded as munificent. 
Mr. Hallet was styled in the records "a gentleman," a term 
which signified that the possessor was a man of rank, con- 
nected with the gentry or wealthy class. His children were 
Andrew, Jr., Samuel, Hannah, Josias, and Joseph, from the 
former of whom are descended those of the name resident 
here and in the neighboring towns. 

ANDREW HALLET, JR. 

On the 20th of March, 1636, there sailed from Way mouth, 
" bound for New England," one Richard Wade of Simsterly, 
cooper, and Andrew Hallet, " his servant," aged 28'. An- 
drew Hallet, Jr., was subsequently in Lynn, from whence he 
removed to Sandwich, in 1637, together with Richard Wade. 
It is therefore evident that he did not come over with his 

' Hatton. 



THE FIRST COMERS, . 51 

father, as was supposed, and his description, as " servant" to 
Wade, judging by his resources and standing in the commu- 
nity afterwards, was assumed for convenience, as the des- 
criptions of their occupations were in many cases, by other 
emigrants. He was an inhabitant of Sandwich in 1640, 
when he sold his estate there to Daniel Wing, and removed 
to Yarmouth. In 1642 he bought the dwelling-house and ten 
acres of land of Giles Hopkins, the first house known to have 
been built by a white man in town. He afterwards bought 
eighteen acres of Nicholas Simpkins, on the east, and the 
farm of Robert Dennis on the southwest, the deed of which 
has been preserved in the Old Colony archives, in the hand- 
writing of Mr. Anthony Thacher. By subsequent purchases 
Mr. Hallet became the proprietor of some three hundred 
acres of the best tillage and meadow land in town, owning 
from Barnstable line to nearly a quarter of a mile easterly, on 
both sides of the present Hallet street, which took its name 
from his family. He had rights in the common lands equal 
to nearly 500 acres more, and subsequently acquired lands in 
Barnstable. He was not much in public employment, though 
he served a number of times as Surveyor of Highways, Con- 
stable, Grand Juror, and once on the Land Committee, at 
the request of the Colony Court. He was a church member, 
but sympathized with the Hull schism, at one time, and, at a 
period when religious controversies ran high in the Yarmouth 
society, attended, with members of his family, the meetings 
of Mr. Lothrop in Barnstable. The second house occupied 
by Mr. Hallet was built by him on a spot a little southeast- 
erly of the Hopkins house, on the present mill road. Mr. 
Hallet was a shrewd calculator and a good business man, and 
before his death his taxes amounted to one-twentieth of the 
entire assessment of the town. He died in 1684, at the age 
of y6, and by his will, after providing for his wife, Annie, a 
daughter of Mr. Anthony Besse of Sandwich, who survived 
him, remembering his daughters and grand-children liberally, 
and giving to his oldest son, Jonathan, the little Calves 



S2 OLD YARMOUTH. 

Pasture, as token of his right of primogeniture, desired his 
sons, Jonathan and John, to divide the residue peacefully 
between them, with which request they failed to comply, but 
were compelled to select Mr. Nathaniel Bacon of Barnstable 
and Col. William Basset of Sandwich, to arbitrate upon the 
matter, coming under £ 800 bonds each to the other to abide 
the result of the awaid. The estate of Mr. Hallet was inven- 
toried ;«{^r,i8o, 13s. gd.; £,go<^ being in real, and £, 271 13s. 
9d. in personal property. His will being signed with a 
mark has led to the conclusion that he could not write, but 
in 1659 ^i'^ name was signed to the verdict of a coroner's 
jury, and it is hardly to be credited that the son of a "school- 
master," as his father was styled, should be destitute of so 
common an accomplishment as writing. Much of his landed 
estate is still held by meml^ers of his family. 

MR. MARMADUKE MATTHEWS. 

Rev. Marmaduke Matthews was born in Swansey, Glamon- 
shire, Wales, in 1605, matriculated at All Souls College, 
Oxford, Feb. 20, 1623, and came to New England in Sept., 
1628. He is spoken of by Gov. Winthrop as a "goodly min- 
ister," and is enumerated by Morton in the list of "those god- 
ly and able gospel preachers with which the Lord was pleas- 
ed to accomplish and adorn the colony." He was by some 
regarded as able and devoted, but by all as lacking in discre- 
tion. It is said that he lost at one time the approbation of 
some able, understanding men, among both magistrates and 
ministers, by "weak and unsafe" expressions in his teach- 
ings. This was followed by a thorough scrutiny of his 
preaching, by the General Court, which resulted in his being 
admonished. "But," says Rev. Mr. Dodge, "no one can 
read his petition for re-instatement, without the conviction 
that whatever expressions he may have uttered, that might 
not have appeared to his serious contemporaries, as becom- 
ing the gravity of the clerical charcter, he was not wanting 
in the essential qualities of a good minister." He fell upon 



THE FIRST COMERS. 53 

troublous times. After a stormy ministry, Mr. Mat- 
thews left this town for Hull, about 1645, and was 
afterwards in Maiden, where he was cited to appear in Court, 
for "uttering unsafe and unsound expressions," and fined 
j[, 10, and the Maiden church was cited for settling him with- 
out the approbation of the magistrates. When the marshal 
endeavored to satisf}'- the judgment against Mr. Matthews he 
"found nothing but his library." He afterwards returned 
to England, and died in his native place in 1683. 

EDWARD STURGES. 

The family of Mr. Sturges is believed to have been a dis- 
tinguished one in England, from whence Edward, of this 
town, came somewhere about the year 1634, when he was in 
Charlestown, and was in Yarmouth in 1641, in which year he 
was a Constable. He also served four years as Deputy to 
the Colony Court, and also on various committees of the 
town. He kept an ordinary, at which large quantities of 
liquors were sold, the accounts of which, officially published, 
throw much light on the drinking habits of our ancestors. 
His residence was not far from the old meeting-house. It 
was said that he had more plate in his house than all the rest 
of Yarmouth. He died in Sandwich, in 1695, leaving an 
estate appraised at ;^963. For so prominent a family as his, 
the account of Mr. Sturges's descendants is unusually obscure 
and unsatisfactor3^ His sons, it is believed were, Thomas 
and Samuel. Among his descendants are the late President 
Ouincy of Harvard college, John Quincy Adams, and other 
distinguished personages. The origin of this connection, 
together with a glimpse of the social status of this family, as 
well as of the usages of the times, was given by the late 
Josiah Ouincy, in a speech delivered at a meeting of the 
Cape Cod Association, held in Yarmouth, August 2, 1854. 
Some of the speakers had remarked that they regretted not 
to have descended from the fathers of Cape Cod. Mr. Quin- 
cy said : " Neither am I ; but I am proud to say that I am — 



54 OLD YARMOUTH. 

what is a great deal better — descended from the mothers of 
Cape Cod. His honor the Chief Justice has raised a point of 
law. I have a decision of the Supreme Court — not of Mass- 
achusetts, but of the Province of Massachusetts Bay — given 
a hundred and thirty years ago, which proves my right to be 
here. It so happened that the gentleman who held the office 
of Chief Justice was my great-great-grand-father. Whether 
he was a judge of law I know not, but he was a judge of 
ladies. Being Chief Justice he came down to this part of 
the world, and having no criminal business to do he looked 
after the young ladies. The result was, that when he got 
home to Braintree — Ouincy that now is, — he called his son 
Josiah to him and advised him to go straightway down to 
Yarmouth, and to inquire for the house of one John Sturges, 
and to make himself as agreeable as he could to Miss Han- 
nah Sturges, v/ho was there. Well, my ancestor was like his 
descendants, a very dutiful son, particularly when his father 
told him to go and see the girls. So down he came to Yar- 
mouth. Whether he succeeded in the object of his mission 
or not, I will not say ; but — I have the honor of addressing 
you at this time !" Letters which are still preserved, show 
the intimacy which was preserved between the Sturges and 
Quincy families for several generations. 

EDMUND HAWES. 

Edmund Hawes came passenger in ship James, of London, 
which sailed from Southampton, England, about the sixth of 
April, 1635. He was described as a " cutler," doubtless to 
avoid being detained by the authorities, as other emigrants 
were for similar reason. He was also set down as "late of 
London." Mr. Hawes resided for some years at Duxbury 
before he came to this town. In 1645 ^^ was an inhabitant 
of Yarmouth and a Deputy to the Court. He was appointed 
in 1672 chairman of the Land Committee, and for many years 
was one of the board of Selectmen and Assessors. He held 
the position of Town Clerk, succeeding to Anthony Thacher, 



THE FIRST COMERS. 55 

at the time of his death. His lands were situated between 
the lands of the Hallets and the Thachers, at the eastern 
part of what is now called Hallet street, and the highway 
running to the easterly side of Dennis Pond was long known 
as "Hawes's Lane." He survived nearly all the first settlers 
in Yarmouth. His death is recorded with great formality in 
the old records : '* Mr. Edmund Hawes died upon the 9th 
day of June, and was buried the tenth day of June one thous- 
and six hundred and ninety and three, 1693." His age at 
the time of his death is not given, but he must have been 
about eighty years old. He was a man of education and good 
parts, and was a leading character of the town and colony. 
He had one son, John, who was also a man of influence and 
high character, and from whom the families in Chatham and 
other places in the County descended. None of his male 
descendants of the name are now resident in Yarmouth. 

THOMAS STARR. 

Thomas Starr was from Ashford, Kent Co., England, from 
whence he came, with his father. Comfort Starr, in 1634-5. 
Both father and son were physicians. He had served in the 
Pequot war, was in Duxbury in 1639, and the same year own- 
ed the northeasterly house-lot in Yarmouth, which he sold, 
with an unfurnished house, to Mr. Andrew Hallet, and tem- 
porarily left here for Scituate. He subsequently returned and 
had lands assigned him in this town by the court, in 1641 and 
1645. He was one of the opposers of Rev. Mr. Matthews, 
upheld the actempt of Mr. Hull to set up a religious society 
here, and was fined by the Court, for being, in the language 
of the record, a "scoffer and jeerer at religion." He was in 
1648 one of the committee of the town on the division of the 
lands, and remained here as late as 1650. This place afford- 
ing too small a field for the practice of his profession, he 
removed to Charlestown, where he died in 1658, being at the 
time Clerk of the Writs. He was a man of education and 
ability, but was more of a Cavalier than a Puritan, and figured 



56 OLD YARMOUTH. 

as defendant in the colonial courts in several cases, which a 
less rigorous state of society would not have regarded with 
any great degree of severity. 

NICHOLAS SIMPKINS. 

Mr. Nicholas Simpkins was born in England in the year 
1600. He was in Boston and the first captain of the castle, 
in 1634, which position he filled for two years. He came to 
Yarmouth in 1639, and was one of the Committee appointed 
by the Court that year on the first division of the uplands. 
In 1646 he sold his plantation at Yarmouth to Thomas 
Boardman and removed to Scituate, and was again in Boston 
in 1649, He was a draper and tailor by trade. Members of 
the family have returned to this town within fifty years, and 
one of them acquired a title to the estate in the region of 
Simpkins's Creek, nearly two hundred years after it had 
been sold by Nicholas Simpkins, without knowing at the time 
that it had ever been held by one of the name. 

WILLIAM CHASE. 

William Chase came over in the fleet with Win thro p, 
bringing with him his wife, Mary, and his son, William. He 
took the Freeman's oath May 14, 1634, and was afterwards at 
Roxbury and Scituate, in the first-named place his wife being 
cured of a singular malady, described in a recently-published 
and characteristic letter, by Dr. O. W. Holmes. He was one 
of Mr. Bachilor's company, who spent the winter of 1638, at 
Mattacheese, and the only one who remained after that un- 
fortunate enterprise was abandoned. He fenced in a portion of 
the lands in "Old Town," (as that part of Barnstable, then 
Yarmouth, was called,) and claimed it, when the settlement 
of the town was made. He mortgaged this land to Stephen 
Hopkins in 1642, and disposed of it in 1648. He was appoint- 
ed a Constable in 1639, serving but six months, being involv- 
ed in difficulties growing out of his opposition to Mr. Mat- 
thews. In 1640 he was censured by the Court, for his Ian- 



THE FIRST COMERS. 57 

giiage against the minister, and ordered to depart the colony 
in six months, but the order, for some reason, was not enforc- 
ed. His name appeared again in the Court records, in a civil 
case, connected with a difference with Mr. Nicholas Simpkins, 
and he was presented by the Grand Jury in 1654, for driving 
a yoke of oxen five miles on the Lord's day, during time of 
service. In 1645, he enlisted as a drummer in the expedition 
against the Narragansetts, and received 5 shillings extra pay. 
He died in May, 1659. -^^ ^^^^ 2, carpenter by trade, and 
his agreement to build a house for Dr. Thomas Starr for ;^5, 
which was afterwards sold to Mr. Andrew Hallet, is preserv- 
ed. Mr. Chase was not in accord with the body of the set- 
tlers, being more latitudinarian in his notions than accorded 
with the sentiment of the times. His numerous descendants 
in this section of Massachusetts are derived from John, sec- 
ond son of William, Jr., who came with him from England. 

SAMUEL RIDER. 

Among those who proposed to "take up their freedom 
at Yarmouth," Jan. 7, 1639 was Samuel Rider. He was one 
of the first comers, settling near Pollen's Pond. In October, 
1643, he was appointed by the court one of a committee to 
select a place to fortify for the general defence, in case the 
townsmen could not agree upon a location. He was appoint- 
ed Lieutenant of the militia, in 1653, and the same year was 
appointed a Deputy to attend a military council to meet in 
Plymouth; was cashiered in 1655 from his office of Lieu- 
tenant, for alleged abusive language towards officers sent to 
press men into the service, but was afterwards restored- 
His offence was, according to Judge Mitchell, his leniency 
towards the Quakers. Besides the offices already mentioned, 
he was several times Surveyor of Highways and Assessor- 
He died in 1679, aged 78 years. His son Zachary, said to be 
the first white child born in Yarmouth, was killed, by the 
discharge of a gun, at a training, in 1685. 



SS OLD YARMOUTH, 

JOHN GORHAM. 

John Gorham, son of Ralph, was born at Benefield, North- 
amptonshire, Jan. 28, 162 1. His descent is traced to De 
Gorran, of La Tanniere, near Gorram, in Maine, on the 
borders of Brittany. Ralph, father of John, the ancestor of 
the Cape Gorhams, was, with his family, as early as 1637, 
In Plymouth, where land was granted him. In 1643, he 
married Desire Howland, of that town, and in 1646 removed 
to Marshfield, where he became a Freeman, in 1650. In 
1652 he came to Yarmouth, and purchased the northwest 
house lot, on the County road, adjoining the bounds of 
Barnstable. Subsequently he purchased a part of the farm 
of Andrew Hallet, adjoining his lot. He also owned the 
grist-mill, known as Hallet's mill, and the landing place, or 
wharf, near the same, but situated farther south than the 
present mill. The dam built by the settlers only enclosed 
the southern portion of the mill pond, then appropriately 
called Stony Cove. Mr. Gorham's tannery was a short 
distance south of the present mill, on the west side of the 
pond, and northerly from the ancient mill. He was a Sur- 
veyor of Highways for Yarmouth in 1654. In 1673 and 1674 
he was one of the Selectmen of Barnstable, but in 1675 was 
again a resident of the town and captain of the militia here. 
In June of that year, Capt. Gorham and twenty-five men 
from Yarmouth, "took up their first march for Mount Hope." 
The theatre of war changing, the company marched into 
Massachusetts, without results. In October he was appoint- 
ed captain of the second company of Plymouth Colony forces, 
was engaged in the sanguinary fight in the Swamp Fort, 
Dec. 19, and died at Swansey, from fever contracted in con- 
sequence of exposure during that campaign, Feb. 5, 1676, at 
the age of 55 years. He left a family of eleven children, 
from whom have descended the families in this and the 
neighboring towns, viz : James, John, Thomas, Joseph, Jabez, 
Sylvanus, Ebenezer, and four daughters. The Gorhams 
have been prominent in public affairs in both Yarmouth and 



THE FIRST COMERS. 59 

Barnstable, and have rendered valuable and important service. 

RICHARD SEARS. 

Mr. Richard Sears, who came over with the last of the 
congregation from Leyden, landed at Plymouth May, 8, 1630. 
The family was originally of Kent, the ancestor of the 
American line being Adam Sayer, who died in 1846, possess- 
ed of the manor of Hougham, near Rochester. The family 
was distinguished, both by birth and achievements. Rich- 
ard, sometimes called "the Pilgrim," was the son of John 
Bouchier Sayer, who married Marie Lamoral, of the illustri- 
ous Van Egmond family, of Amsterdam, and grandson of 
the John Bouchier Sayer, whose father was deprived of his 
ancestral rights on account of his constancy to his religious 
views during the reign of Henry VHI., and fled to Holland. 
Richard Sayer joined the Scrooby company at Leyden, and 
upon the death of his father, in 1629, came into possession of 
a large property, and subsequently accompanied the remnant 
of the congregation to Plymouth. He had a grant of land at 
Salem, in 1638, but did not stop there long, if at all. In 
1643 he settled in Sesuit, now East Dennis. He was a con- 
stable in 1660, Deputy to the Court in 1662, but seldom 
accepted public employment. He died in 1676, aged ^6 
years, after a life of great purity and devotion to religious 
duty. His will and codicil were signed with a mark, which 
has led some writers to state that he was a military officer, 
and lost his arm by a gun-shot wound in battle with the 
Indians, in 1650. There seems to be no foundation for such 
a statement, in any reliable record of the times, and his so 
writing was doubtless due to the infirmities of age, as fre- 
quently occurred at that period. The accounts of the family 
of Richard Sears state that he married Dorothy Thacher, a 
sister of Anthony, a statement which has been questioned, 
but which rests not only upon tradition, but also upon 
expressions in his will, the testimony of John Thacher, and 
the record in the family Bible left by Hon, Richard Sears of 



6o OLD YARMOUTH. 

Chatham, which had been kept for several generations. The 
same authority has records of the names of the children of 
Richard Sears, viz: Knyvet, born 1635; Paul, 1637; Silas, 
1639; and Deborah. Burke's Vicissitudes of Fa7nilies, pwh- 
lished in London, in 1863, confirms this record, and gives a 
narrative of the Sayers, which has all the attractions of 
romance. Knyvet, the elder son, made two trips to, and 
spent much time in, England, in the endeavor to recover his 
family estates, and he died there in 1686, at the residence of 
a relative. His sons, Daniel and Richard, were adopted by 
their uncle, Paul, and subsequently purchased an estate at 
Monomoy (Chatham,) where they removed in 17 10. The 
name in the old books is written Sayer ; he himself vv^rote it 
Sares ; and his posterity commenced writing it Sears. The 
family has been distinguished in various professional and 
business walks. 

Massive granite monuments, in the old burying-grounds in 
Yarmouth and Chatham, erected by a descendant, mark the 
place of burial of Richard Sears, and of his wife and his sons. 

ROBERT DENNIS. 

Robert Dennis was in Yarmouth in 1641. In 1642 he 
was a surety for Wm. Nickerson, and is described as a car- 
penter. In 1645 he was a member of the Grand Inquest. 
In 1648, Capt. Standish assigned to him, in his division of 
town lands, 33 acres in the West Field, which he had bought 
of other parties, and he was appointed on the committee of 
the town to dispose of the common lands. In 1650 he was 
propounded as a Freeman ; in 1658 was one of the committee 
to settle with the sachem Yanno ; in 1659 appointed to di- 
vide the estate of Wm. Chase ; was afterwards excise officer, 
committee on the part of the town for oil claimed by the col- 
ony, and was a generally useful and trusted citizen. He 
died in 1669, leaving one daughter, but probably no male 
heirs. Dennis Pond, adjoining which he owned lands, is 
named for him. 



THE FIRST COMERS. 6i 

WILLIAM NICKERSON. 
William Nickerson, weaver, aged 33^ from Norwich, Eng- 
land, and his wife Ann, daughter of Nicholas Burty, aged 28, 
and four children: Nicholas, Robert, Elizabeth and Ann, 
embarked at Ipswich or Yarmouth, April 8, 1637, arrived at 
Boston, and went to Watertown, presumedly to join his father- 
in-law. Admitted a Freeman in 1638. He was in this town 
as early as 164.1, and was fined for "disrespect for relio-ion," 
which meant disrespect of Rev. Mr. Matthews. He had 
children baptized in Barnstable, in 1646, by Mr. Lothrop, 
which shows his Christian character, as recognized by that 
excellent man. His difficulties with the authorities, growing 
out of his efforts to acquire lands claimed by them, will be 
found set forth in appropriate connection. He removed to 
Chatham about 1672, and is said to have exercised the func- 
tions of a religious teacher there for a number of years. His 
descendants are numerous and respected, and are widely 
scattered over the Cape towns and in the cities of the L^nion. 

JOHN HALL. 

John Hall came to Yarmouth about the year 1657, havino- 
previously lived some ten years in Barnstable. The family 
tradition is that he came from Wales. He settled near Nob- 
scusset Pond, north of the meeting-house. He also owned 
land near Coy's Pond, and rights of commonage. He was 
Constable of the town of Barnstable, and Surveyor of High- 
ways and a member of the Grand Inquest of the town of 
Yarmouth. He was distinguished for his high moral worth 
and integrity of character. He died in 1696, at a very 
advanced age. He had nine sons, viz : Samuel, John, 
Joseph, William, Benjamin, Elisha, Nathaniel, Gershom, and 
one other. His descendants" are numerous and of high char- 
acter, both in this community and throughout the country. 
There were several John Halls in New England, who were 
contemporaries, which circumstance has proved a source of 
much confusion to writers of genealogy. 



62 OLD YARMOUTH, 

JAMES MATTHEWS. 

James Matthews was supposed by some writers to have 
been a brother of the Rev. Marmaduke, but there is no evi- 
dence of any relationship between the two. He was in 
Charlestown in 1634, and probably removed to Yarmouth 
with the first < omers, in 1639. There is very strong evi- 
dence that the iamily was from Tewksbury, in Gloucester- 
shire. Mr. Matthews settled near the westerly borders of 
Follen's Pond. He was greatly trusted by his fellow-citizens,, 
though apparently disinclined to public employments, as he 
was once fined for not serving on the Grand Inquest. He 
was, however, a Deputy in 1664, Selectman, Constable, 
Grand Juryman, etc., several terms, at various periods. His 
male children were, Samuel, Benjamin, and probably Thomas, 
William and John. He died Jan. 29, 1685. The name has 
been identified with the best interests of the town for sever- 
al generations, and the family is numerous and widely scat- 
tered, 

RICHARD TAYLOR. 

Two persons of this name in this town were nearly con- 
temporaneous, and both had wives named Ruth. Richard 
Taylor, a tailor by trade, was here and enrolled among those 
able to bear arms, in 1643. In 1646 he had a difficulty with 
Gabriel Whelden, who objected to his marriage with Whel- 
den's daughter, Ruth ; but the Court took cognizance of the 
matter, and he promised to give his consent to the marriage, 
which afterwards took ]jlace. His wife was drowned in Dux- 
bury, in 1673, and he died the following year. The Taylor 
families of Chatham are descended from this Richard. 

The Taylors of Yarmouth are descended from the Richard 
Taylor, known as "Richard Rock," so called from the cir- 
cumstance of building his house by the side of a great rock 
on his estate. He married Ruth Burgess. Richard Taylor 
was Constable in 1656 and 1668, Surveyor of Highways in 
1657, Excise Officer in 1664 and on the Grand Jury in 1685. 



THE FIRST COMERS. ' 63 

It is highly probable that some of the afore-named offices 
were bestowed upon the first-named Richard. The sons of 
this Richard were, Richard, born in 1652; Jashur, 1659; 
and Elisha, in 1667, from whom the respectable family of 
that name, in this town, descended. He died in 1703. 

WILLIAM HEDGE. 

William Hedge was a Freeman, at Lynn, in May, 1634; 
removed to Sandwich, and from thence to Yarmouth, where 
he was settled as early as 1643. He is favorably mentioned 
by a soldier in the Pequot war, who served with him, as a 
gentleman, of Northamptonshire, England. He was several 
times Captain of the military company in this town, a mem- 
ber of the Grand Inquest, and of the Council of War. 
He appears to have been a man of substance and importance 
in the community. He died in 1670, leaving five children, 
Abraham, Elisha, William, John, and Lemuel. The family 
is not numerous in Yarmouth, but is well represented in 
Dennis. 

FRANCIS BAKER. 

Francis Baker was born in England in 161 r. In 1635, he 
embarked in ship Planter, for New England, bringing a cer- 
tificate signed by the minister in Great St. Albans, Hertford- 
shire County, his last place of residence, that he had taken 
the oath of allegiance and supremacy. He was described as 
a "tailor," but he afterwards exercised the calling of cooper 
and blacksmith. In 1641, he married Isabel Twining, of this 
town, with whom he lived fifty-five years. The same year he 
was admitted to dwell in Yarmouth, but "not to have any of 
the lands assigned to others without their consent." For 
that reason, probably, he had to take up his residence on the 
eastern side of Bass River, near Follen's Pond, which was 
not then occupied, where he died in 1696 aged 85 years — 
the last of the first comers. He was not in full accord with 
the Puritan notions of the time. He had, for sons, Nathaniel, 



64 OLD YARMOUTH. 

John, Samuel, Daniel, William and Thomas, from whom are 
derived a numerous posterity, of valuable citizens. 

JOHN AND JOSHUA BARNES. 

John Barnes was in Plymouth in 1632, and came to Yar- 
mouth in 1639. He was not, however, much of a Puritan, 
being several times fined for Sabbath-breaking and disorder- 
ly conduct. He returned to Plymouth in 1641, and died 
twenty-four years later, by reason of an injury received from 
one of his cattle. 

Joshua Barnes came to Plymouth in 1632, and was bound 
to Mr, Payne for five years from his landing. He was in 
Yarmouth in 1639, '^'^^ one of the first committee to divide 
the planting lands. He was fined in 1642 for "scoffing at 
religion and disturbing worship," which probably means that 
he opposed the ministry of Mr. Matthews. He afterwards 
left town, and seems to have been an inhabitant of East- 
hampton, L. I., in 16^0. 

PETER WORDEN, SR. AND JR. 

The elder Worden was one of those "excepted to" by the 
court, but was here early in 1639 and died that year, proba- 
bly the lirst white man who died in town. He came from 
Clayton, Lancaster Co., England, where he owned an estate. 
Peter, Jr., sold twelve acres in the West Field to Robert 
Dennis, before 1648. He was appointed on the Grand Jury 
in 165 1, and was fined for not serving. He was an opposer 
of the prevailing order of things, and fined for "creating dis- 
turbance in the meeting-house on the Lord's day," which 
consisted of speaking his mind audibly about theological mat- 
ters. His lands were in the eastern portion of the town, 
adjoining those of Richard Sears, on the western side. The 
family is extinct in town. 

WILLIAM AND ROBERT ELDRIDGE. 

William Eldridge or Eidred, was in Yarmouth in 1647, 
when he married Ann, daughter of William Lumpkin, and 



THE FIRST COMERS. 65 

died November, 1679. He was a Constable in 1657, and 
afterwards Surveyor of Highways, for two years. His 
descendants subsequently became prominent and influential 
in the affairs of the town, 

Robert Eldridge married the daughter of Wm. Nickerson, 
"the last week of October, 1649," and afterwards espoused 
the controversies of his father-in-law, removing in 1665 to 
Chatham, and was the progenitor of the Eldridges of that 
town, 

WILLIAM LUMPKIN. 

Wm. Lumpkin was one of the first comers. He was chos- 
en to the offices of Constable, Grand Juryman, Surveyor of 
Highways, Deputy to the Colony Court, and was Foreman 
of a Coroner's Jury, in 1667. It will thus be seen that he was 
a man who was trusted and honored, but nevertheless came 
under the discipline of the authorities. In March, 1667, he 
and Peter Worden were fined los. each " for disturbance of 
public worship." The disturbance consisted in sitting in a 
corner of the meeting-house, and conversing in a low tone 
during service. The name is extinct in Yarmouth, 

HUGH TILLEY. 

This person was in Salem in 1629, when he was a servant 
to Sir Richard Saltonstall. He was in Yarmouth in 1639, 
and witness to a will, and was enrolled to bear arms in 1643. 
He died Jan. 1648. The name is sometimes written Hillier. 

EMANUEL WHITE. 

Emanuel White was in Watertown in 1636, and in Yar- 
mouth in 1 64 1, when he was a Surveyor of Highways. He 
was admitted as a Freeman the following year, and on that 
and the succeeding years was Constable, and in 1646 a Grand 
Juryman. He was involved in the ministerial quarrel of the 
time, and in 1646, was fined by the court for villifying Rev. 
John Miller, a short and summary process to which our fath- 



66 OLD YARMOUTH. 

ers usually resorted, to silence opposition to the established 
religious order of things. The Whites of this town are not 
his descendants, but of Jonathan, who came here later. 

JOHN JOYCE. 

John Joyce removed from Lynn to Sandwich, in 1637, and 
thence to Yarmouth, in 1643, being on the list of those able 
to bear arms, in that year, of both towns. He was a man of 
wealth, residing in the village of Hockanom. He died in 
1666. The family name became extinct by the death of 
Jeremiah, great-grandson of John, in 1755. 

RICHARD PRITCHARD. 

In 1643, the name of Richard Pritchard was on the list 
of P'reemen of the town of Yarmouth. He removed to 
Charlestown, and died, 1660. 

DANIEL AND JOB COLE. 

Daniel Cole was a Freeman of Yarmouth, in 1643, in which 
year he removed to Eastham, where he died. 

Job Cole was a P'reeman in 1643, but soon after left town. 

RICHARD BERRY. 

Richard Berry was of Barnstable in 1643, removed to Boston 
in 1647, thence to Yarmouth, where he resided in 1649. He 
lived near the mouth of Bass River, and came under the dis- 
cipline of the authorities on several occasions. He had 
eleven children, who were, as far as known, of exemplary 
character, and his sons, John and Samuel, from whom those 
of the name here have descended, were useful and esteemed 
citizens. 

PHILIP TABOR. 

Philip Tabor was in Watertown in 1634, and was made 
a P^reeman that year. In 1639 he proposed to take up 
his freedom at Yarmouth. In March of that year he was of 



THE FIRST COMERS. 67 

the committee to divide the planting lands, and Deputy in 
1639. Soon after he went to the Vineyard, and after settling 
in other places, finally removed to Tiverton, R. I. 

WILLIAM CLARK. 

William Clark was in Yarmouth in 1639, when he took the 
oath of fidelity, and was sworn as Constable. He was Sur- 
veyor of Highways in 1641 and also in 165 1. He was jorob- 
ably unmarried, and died in 1668. By his noncupative will 
he gave his little property to Joseph Benjamin. 

GILES HOPKINS. 

Giles Hopkins was the eldest son of Mr. Stephen Hopkins, 
a Londoner, and came over with his father and mother in the 
Mayflower. His father had a temporary residence in Yar- 
mouth, where he came to pasture his herds, and he was here 
and occupied the first house built in town. He married 
Catharine Whelden, and soon after removed to Eastham 
where he died in 1690. 

THOMAS HATCH. 

Thomas Hatch was one of the nine, who, Jan. 7, 1639, pro- 
posed to take up their freedom in Yarmouth. In the March 
following, he proposed to become a Freeman, but it is not a 
matter of record that he took the required oath. In 1641 he 
removed to Barnstable, where he died in 1661. 

SAMUEL ARNOLD. 

Samuel Arnold was in Sandwich in 1643, afterwards 
removed to Yarmouth, where he lived as early as 1653, and 
was Deputy in 1654 and 1656. Was ordained the third min- 
ister of Marshfield in 1658, and died in that town in 1693, at 
the age of 71. 

THOMAS BOARDMAN. 

Thomas Boardman, a carpenter, from London, was in Yar- 



68 OLD YARMOUTH. 

mouth in 1643, having previously been in Plyraoutfi and 
Sandwich. His first wife, Lucy, died in 1676, and he subse- 
quently married Elizabeth, widow of Lieut, John Cole, and 
daughter of Samuel Rider. He died Aug. 1689, very aged. 
The family is extinct in town. 

THOMAS FALLAND. 

Thomas Falland was a Freeman in 1641, came to Yar- 
mouth before 1643, and settled at the head of the Pond which 
bears his name. He was a Deputy in 1643, and Surveyor of 
Highways in 1655. He died in 1686. He was a man of 
wealth and social distinction. The name is extinct in town. 
At a later day the name was written Follan and Follen. 

WILLIAM PALMER. 

William Palmer was of Scituate, in 1633. He was in Yar- 
mouth 1638, and was- appointed by the Court to exercise the 
inhabitants in the use of arms ; was Lieutenant, and a Dep- 
uty in 1642, 1643 and 1644. He was one of the purchasers 
of Dartmouth, in 1652^ but removed to Newtown, L. I., 
1656, and died before i66r, in high esteem. 

GABRIEL WHELDEN. 

Gabriel VVhelden, in Sept. 1638, was licensed to dwell in 
Mattacheese, with the consent of the Committee of the place, 
and to have lands here. He was Surveyor of Highways, 
in 1642 and 1647. There have been many excellent citizens 
of the name in Old Yarmouth. 

THOMAS PAYNE. 

Thomas Payne was in Yarmouth in 1629, and was Deputy 
that year. He removed to Eastham, where he died, in that 
part of the town now Truro, and from him sprung numer- 
ous descendants, among them, Robert Treat Paine, a signer 
of the Declaration of Independence, and John Howard 
Payne, the author of " Sweet Home." 



THE FIRST COMERS. 69 

REV. JOHN MILLER. 
Mr. John Miller, the second minister of Yarmouth, was 
educated at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, where 
he took his degree of A.B. in 1627^ He resided for a while 
in Roxbury, where. he was an Elder in the church of the 
Apostle Elliot. From 1639 to 1641 he was Clerk of the 
town of Rowley, and assistant of the minister there. He 
was selected to go on a mission to Virginia, but declined, on 
account of inadequate health. He was also called to preach 
in Woburn, but declined. He came to Yarmouth, probably 
in the spring of 1647, to take charge of a society rent by dis^ 
scnsions, and after calling in to his assistance three of the 
leading ministers of Massachusetts Bay, the breach was 
measurably healed, for a time. But the old discontents were 
revived, and after a stormy ministry of fourteen years, Mr. 
Miller left town about the year 1661, for Groton, where he 
died as pastor of a new pioneer church, two years later. He 
was a man of learning and zeal for the truth. He was 
brought up in easy circumstances, and educated for the Eng- 
lish Church, and was one of the seventy-seven mentioned by 
Cotton Mather who vv^ere in the actual exercise of their min- 
istry when they left England. Johnson thus extols him in 
the following quaint verses :— - 

" with courage bold Miller tliTo' seas did venter 
To toyl it out in this great western waste. 
Thy stature low one object high doth center, 
Higher than heaven thy faith on Christ is plac't ; 
Alarum thou with silver trumpet sound, 
.•\nd tell the World Christ's armies are at hand. 
Vv'ith scripture truth thou errots didst confound. 
And overthrow all Anti^christian bands ; 
It matters not for the world's high reputation, 
The World must fall and Christ alone must stand, 
Thy crown 's prepar'd in him, then keep thy station 
Joy that Christ's kingdom is so near at hand." 

He had three daughters and one son, John, born in Eng- 
land, who married Margaret, daughter of Gov. Josiah Wins- 
low, who also left three sons. Mr. Miller's family name is 
extinct in the town, though for three or four generations his 



-JO OLD YARMOUTH. 

descendants were prominent and useful in our public affairs, 
RICHARD HORE. 

He was in Yarmouth as early as 1641, on which year and 
1642 and 1650, he was a Deputy to the Colony Court. In 
1658 he was one of the Committee respecting the division of 
lands. None of the name are now resident in town. In 
some of the writings of the period he is styled "Elder." 

JOHN GRAY. 

^ Of John Gray very little is known. He was in Yarmouth 
in 1643, and on the list of those able to bear arms. His chil- 
dren were, Benjamin and William, and perhaps Mary. We 
are not able to trace a connection between him and the pres- 
ent family in this town bearing that name, 

YELVERTON CROW, 

It has sometimes been assumed, without sufficient evi- 
dence, that Yelverton Crow was a brother of John, one of 
the grantees of the town. He was one on the list of those 
able to bear arms in 1643, was a Grand Juryman in 1656, 
Deputy in 1663, 1666 and 1667, and Selectman the same 
year. He died in 1683. He lived at "South Sea." He had 
a son, Thomas. 

Besides the foregoing "first men," we catch occasional 
glimpses of others who were here in the early days of the 
settlement, some as temporary residents, some as witnesses 
to writings placed on record, others by controversies respect- 
ing drift whales or wrecks, or perhaps by their arraignment 
for an infraction of the rigorous laws of the Colony. This 
was their only opportunity for a doubtful immortality. They 
are mentioned but once ; their entrance and exit is recorded 
in the same paragraph ; they come upon the stage, their shadowy 
forms are revealed, and then dissolve into thin air. No 
doubt these shores were frequented by others than the per- 
manent settlers — by sailors, fishermen and roving traders — 



THE FIRST COMERS. 71 

a drifting mass of humanity, good, bad or indifferent, which 
is ever to be found about a newly-settled community. But 
the men whose portraits have been so imperfectly sketched, 
are they who gave form and life and vigor to the infant and 
struggling towru 



CHAPTER VIII. 
WHO AND WHAT THPIY WERE. 

Pasturage and Planting Lands sought for — Cattle Raising— Religious Freedom — 
Toleration not professed, but practised— Theological Differences accounted for — 
Pilgrim and Puritan Traits combined— Domestic and Every-day Life — Character 
of their Amusements — Business Pursuits — Fishing, Trading, Agriculture, Manu- 
factures—Food and Beverages - First Dwellings — Style of Dress — The Settlers not 
in Indigent Circumstances — Money, and Com as Currency — The Professions, Legal 
and Medical — Not Seeking for Honor or Fame— Duty, their Governing Motive. 

What sought they thus afar? — [Mrs. Hemans. 

MANY, besides the poet who made this query as to the 
Plymouth Pilgrims, have often had the same question 
suggested to them, as they have looked upon the by no 
means fertile soil, with an absence of eligible harbors and 
other commercial facilities, on the shores of this town. An- 
swering the inquiry in a material sense, it may be remarked, 
that the first comers were brought to this particular local- 
ity by the extensive salt marshes that skirt our coasts, on the 
Northern portion of the town, assuring them of abundant 
feed for their flocks and herds. Cattle-raising, from 1630 to 
1640, was the best business in the colonies, many of the set- 
tlers taking cattle from England to propagate and rear, for a 
share of the increase. A record of the sale of four two-year- 
old steers and a bull, which were wintered in this town in 
1639-40, places the price paid at ^£8^, an enormous sum, 
considering the value of money at that time compared with 
the present. 

Another inducement, no doubt, was the large fields suita- 
ble for tillage, which were found here, as is indicated by the 
Indian names, MatacJieese or MatacJieeset, applied to the 



WHO AND WHAT THEY WERE. 73 

region. The "West Fields," the Indian planting ground, 
lying between the present street and Dennis Pond, also fur- 
nished a considerable area of cleared land. These two advan- 
tages were the controlling temporal motives that governed 
their selection of this place for a settlement. 

That the impelling cause which brought the great body of 
them to seek these shores was their zeal for a religious idea, 
which seemed to them of paramount importance, and trans- 
cending all temporal advantages, is an undeniable fact, in 
spite of modern cavil. But that they came to establish uni- 
versal toleration, or "freedom to worship God," in any other 
way than according to their own methods, is not true, nor is 
it founded on any pretensions made by them. They came 
here to seek religious liberty for themselves, not for others. 
They made no professions of toleration for differing creeds ; 
that is a claim since set up for them, and not by them. The 
idea was as far in advance of them, as they were in advance 
of their fellows. They doubtless might have remained in 
England, if they could have been content to be passive 
instead of active factors in the great theological controversies 
of the day. But that did not suit the temper of their minds. 
They were not so much fugitives from oppression as self-ex- 
patriated exiles, seeking the realization of a great idea, by 
founding on these shores a model Puritan community, in 
which should be embodied principles which to them seemed 
of sufficient importance to demand the sacrifice of comfort, 
ease, and if need be, of life itself. The settlers of Plymouth 
Colony, notably so those of this town, must be admitted to 
have been greatly in advance of their times, in respect to 
religious toleration. Under circumstances of great provoca- 
tion, and the pressure of their powerful neighbors of Massa- 
chusetts Colony, the magistrates of Plymouth temporarily 
joined, in some degree, in the warfare against the Quakers; 
but they speedily retraced their false steps and established a 
more tolerant system, while other communities were adher- 
ing to their severe and persecuting policy. And coming still 



74 OLD YARMOUTH. 

nearer home, it is anticipating the verdict which this narra- 
tive of the town's history will establish, to say, that no record 
of oppression of Quakers or Anabaptists mars its record, and 
that no dissenter within its limits was harmed in body or 
estate, on account of religious belief, or want of such belief. 
And while the fathers of the town made no vaunting procla- 
mation of adhesion to the doctrine of religious toleration, 
they practically conceded to differing creeds all that Christ- 
ian charity and forbearance could demand. 

The theological differences which prevailed in the early 
years of the town, were the natural results of the circumstanc- 
es under which it was settled. In this they differed from 
their sister towns in this County. In Barnstable, the church 
and society of Mr. Lothrop came in a body, with their or- 
ganization complete ; they were a united band, inspired by 
sentiments of mutual love and esteem. The settlers of 
Sandwich were, in a large measure, from one church and 
society. Those of Eastham, at a later day, were men who 
had been together in the Plymouth church, and were united 
by bonds of sympathy and belief and by labors in a common 
cause. In Yarmouth, the circumstances were entirely differ- 
ent. Not more than two of the settlers, so far as appears^ 
had ever been connected together in business, social or relig- 
ious concerns. They came from different parts of England 
and Wales. Some of them were Independents, some Puri- 
tans, a few were latitudinarian in doctrine and practice. 
Among them were men of good education and good parts, 
and all, of intellectual independence, and not disposed to 
yield their opinions or take them on trust. Under the cir- 
cumstances, harmony of opinion and conformity of belief 
could not reasonably be expected, and their theological disa- 
greements should occasion no surprise. 

It would be most natural to expect, from the cordial rela- 
tions which from the first were established and thencefor- 
ward maintained between the settlers in this town and the 
government of Plymouth, that the Pilgrim traits would pre- 



WHO AND WHAT THEY WERE. 75 

dominate among them ; were it not equally true that most of 
the settlers here first came to Massachusetts, and after re- 
maining there a short time, for reasons of their own, left that 
colony, and stopping in or near Plymouth, finally came 
to this town. They were not exclusively of the Pilgrim or 
of the Puritan types, but combined some of the best traits of 
both, — the liberality and tolerance of the former, and the 
extended knowledge of the world and deeper acquaintance 
with men and affairs, which characterized the latter class. 
Only four of the earlier settlers — Stephen Hopkins (if his 
brief tenure here places him in that category,) his son Giles 

— both of whom came over in the Mayflower — Mr. Richard\ 
_Sea rs, and Mr. Anthony Thacher, both of whom spent some^ 

years with the Leyden congregation — were in any respect 
identified with the Pilgrims. The elder Hopkins, though 
immortalized as one of the signers of the "Social Compact," 
was a Londoner, and never very heartily co-operated with 
the governing classes at Plymouth. It has been believed and 
alleged that it was in consequence of the outgivings of Hop- 
kins and one or two others of the Mayflower's company, 

— who had not been of the Leyden congregation, — that up- 
on going ashore they would feel at liberty to act on all mat- 
ters without reference to the others, that the compact was 
then and there insisted upon as a fundamental basis for their 
future government.'/ Mr. Sears was among the last of the 
Leyden congregation to embark for New England, came di- 
rect to Plymouth, and not long after to this place. He was 
of the best Pilgrim type ; mild, humane, and tolerant in a— 
greater degree than most of the pioneers. Anthony Thach- 
er was willing to forego the social advantages of a minister 
of the established church, for freedom of conscience in the 
rude wilds of the western wilderness. The others of the 
settlers, though of dissimilar and varying origin, after the 
first ferment of differing theological dogmas had subsided 
and settled, seem to have coalesced, 'without much difficulty 

' IMagazine of American History, Vol. VIIL, p. 847-8. 



;6 OLD YARMOUIH. 

with their companions in the work of compacting and devel- 
oping the new community with a reasonable degree of har- 
mony. 

The habits, customs, and the domestic, every-day life of 
our ancestors, have been delineated by former historians, 
with a fidelity of outline and coloring which leaves nothing 
to be added and does not call for repetition in these pages. 
It may be assumed, at the outset, that the fathers and moth- 
ers of the Cape differed but little in their personality from 
the great body of English emigrants who settled in New 
England during the first half of the seventeenth century. 
The severe simplicity of their lives and household appoint- 
ments, and the general austerity of their intercourse with 
one another, call for no elucidation. Their domestic life, 
however, was harmonious and kindly, the relations of parent 
and child and of husband and wife being defined by settled 
rules, and observed with rigorous exactitude. Violations of 
the laws of chastity, sobriety and good order, which seldom 
occurred, were punished with inexorable severity. 

We have, unfortunately, but few and infrequent glimpses 
of their social life, which afford us an insight into the softer 
side of their nature, and admit us to a view of their recrea- 
tions and amusements. These partook greatly of the rugged 
and robust character of their every-day pursuits. Of them 
it may be said, as Froissart said of their ancestors, " they 
took their pleasure sadly, after their fashion." Military ex- 
ercises, ball playing, running, and wrestling, were among the 
chief amusements of the men. The latter was not unat- 
tended with danger, and one case is on record, in which the 
victorious champion in a hardly-contested wrestling match, 
was tried for the murder of his antagonist, who was fatally 
injured by the fall, but was cleared by a jury of his fellow- 
citizens. General musters were occasions which called great 
companies together. Weddings and family re-unions about 
exhausted the social opportunities of the females. The chil- 



WHO AND WHAT THEY WERE. 77 

dren, from one generation to another, did not forget the 
sports of the fatherland, as such games as "hull-gull," "I espy," 
(corrupted to " hy-spry,") and " thread-the-needle," which 
were learned in the old country, continued among them, for 
many generations, in perennial vigor. But the boys and 
girls early developed into men and women, with the cares 
of a busy and serious existence prematurely thrust upon 
them. 

The early business pursuits of the settlers, were, as has 
been seen, agriculture, stock-raising and the fisheries. 
Whales were cast upon the coast, and the citizens had many 
a sharp controversy with the government, which claimed 
these waifs of the sea as its rightful perquisite. Oil, fish, and 
tar gathered from the forests, were exchanged with the trad- 
ing vessels which visited the coast, for the goods of which 
they stood most in need and did not produce themselves. 
They subsequently embarked in trade on their own account, 
gradually enlarging their field of enterprise. They trans- 
ported their fish in their own vessels to Barbadoes and other 
West India ports, exchanged them for molasses and spirits, 
and not only supplied their own wants, but had a surplus to 
trade in the Boston markets, for outfits and articles of home 
consumption. They built vessels from the timber of their 
own forests, which they manned by their own citizens, and 
soon acquired skill and hardihood in seamanship. Their 
progress in agriculture did not keep pace with their profi- 
ciency in nautical pursuits. They soon began to exhaust the 
resources of their light but facile soil, and denuded the hills 
of their forest trees, so that, at the end of two centuries, both 
skill and exertion are required to rehabilitate them. But the 
farms produced good crops of Indian corn, rye, barley and 
some wheat, and all sorts of vegetables except potatoes, 
which came later into general use. Their orchards bore 
apples, the Kentish cherry, peaches and pears, the latter of 
which would be considered of an inferior quality in these days. 
Some pear trees, which tradition says were planted by 



28 OLD YARMOUTH. 

Anthony Thacher and Andrew Hallet, are still standing, and 
they were certainly considered very old by the great-grand- 
parents of the elderly people of the present generation. 

Manufacturing never became a leading or important indus- 
try of the citizens. A fulling-mill, the first in town, was 
built on the western Swan Pond river, by Mr. Thomas Bax- 
ter and Mr. Shubael Gorham, somewhere near the close of 
the seventeenth century. The mothers of the town were 
expert and skillful in the use of the loom, and made most of 
the cloth of their households. At the close of the Revolu- 
tionary war, they wove the sails of a vessel built at Hocka- 
nom. Of salt making they were the pioneers, as will be set 
forth in its appropriate place. 

Of currency in the form of coined money they had a small 
supply. A limited amount in English pieces was their only 
monetary medium of exchange. In 1652, Capt. John Hull 
of the Massachusetts Bay, ventured to exercise the high- 
est act of sovereignty, and coined money in the name of the 
colony. Many of these coins passed current here ; and occa- 
sionally one of them is picked up in old fields or found in an- 
cient drawers. But the best representative of value was in 
the amount of corn stored away. To say that a man had 
"corn in his cribs" was equivalent, in those days, to saying, 
that he had money in bank, or stocks or bonds. A peck, or 
half-bushel or a bushel of corn, was as welcome as silver to 
the trader, or the tax-gatherer. It was sometimes found in- 
convenient to those not in trade to transport such bulky 
currency, and on occasions the town voted that the minister 
should be paid "half in specie, and half in Indian corn, at 
3s. per bushel, and rye the same." 

Their tables were abundantly supplied with game, fish and 
the products of their fields. Cattle soon became plenty. 
Goats were kept for milk and bees for honey. Tea and cof- 
fee were not at first in general use, but beer was regarded as 
a prime necessity, each family brewing at regular intervals. 
Public malt-houses were established to supply the demand 



WHO AND WHAT THEY WERE. 79 

for this beverage. Spirits were consumed in considerable 
quantities, the sale was licensed a.nd regulated by law, but 
their excessive use was severely punished. 

It was not a work requiring much time to construct the 
first dwellings of our ancestors. Some of them put up sub- 
stantial frame houses, as soon as their leisure and circum- 
stances would permit ; but the first buildings were rudely 
and cheaply constructed. That of Andrew Hallet, buiit in 
1639, "^^i^l serve as a specimen of the earlier houses. It was 
contracted to be built by William Chase, for Dr. Thomas 
Starr, who sold it before its completion, to Mr. Hallet, and 
agreed to deliver it, "thatched studded and latched, daubing 
excepted," with twenty-nine acres of land, for £ 10. It 
probably contained but one room on each floor, subsequently 
"daubed" in the crevices with clay or mortar, with oiled 
paper instead of glass for the windows. Our ancestors had 
little time, had they the inclination, to expend great labor or 
means upon architectural adornments, and their dwellings 
were speedily and inexpensively constructed. In a few 
years, when the fields were cleared and trade and the fisher- 
ies brought them wealth and prosperity, houses of considera- 
ble pretensions were built, some few of which have survived 
the tooth of time, and remain as evidences of the standard of 
taste which prevailed among the second generation of our 
ancestors. 

It need not, however, be inferred from the fact that the 
first dwelling-houses of the settlers were small and unpreten- 
tious, that they were necessarily an indigent and humble 
class of people in point of worldly fortune. In respect to 
some of them we know this would not be a correct estimate. 
Anthony Thacher, Edmund Hawes and Richard Sears were 
certainly men of education and social standing in England, 
and Thomas Howes, John Crow, Edward Sturges, Andrew 
Hallet, Nicholas Simpkins and others appear to have belong- 
ed to the substantial middling class, either staunch yeomen or 
educated gentlemen. They built such houses as their condi- 



8o OLD YARMOUTH. 

tion required of them as pioneers of a new country, whose first 
care was to shelter their families while they were preparing 
the soil, making roads and enclosing their plantations. The 
next generation saw a great change in their style of living, as 
well as in their habitations. They little affected the vanities 
of life, as respects furniture and apparel ; yet we occasional- 
ly get glimpses of them in their holiday dresses, which shows 
that they sometimes put on their stylish clothing and arrayed 
themiSelves in fine raiment. The wife of Andrew Hallet, Jr., 
one of the first comers, who died in 1694, left wearing appar- 
el valued at ^ 15, at a time when money was worth — con- 
sidering its purchasing power — at least six or eight times its 
present value, consisting of articles of woolen, linen, silk; 
hose, shoes, hat; showing that on Sundays and holidays she 
dressed in elegant style. To one of her daughters, she 
bequeathed a satin gown — in another place described as of 
"satinstow" — ^and a mohair petticoat. A male member of 
the same family gave in his will one pair of gold sleeve-but- 
tons, and a jack-coat with silver buttons on it. These things 
do not strengthen the theory that the fathers and mothers of 
the town were all people of small means and of straightened 
financial condition. The hardships of their lot did not arise 
from poverty. Mr. Winslow said, "they had emigrated, set- 
tled and maintained the colony without cost to the mother 
state. They were able enough to have lived in England, and 
had removed to a wilderness to escape ecclesiastical persecu- 
tion." Neither can we discern, in the care which they took 
to bestow the titles of Mr., Sergeant, and Lieutenant, and to 
seat church-goers according to their position and social con- 
sideration, that they were insensible to the sentiments which 
grow out of the usual distinctions of social life. 

Of the learned professions they had no regular representa- 
tives, save the clergy, for many years. One of the first 
comers was a physician, but the practice of the settlement 
did not warrant his continuance here. The clergy generally 
possessed some degree of skill in medicine, and Mr. Thorn- 



\^H0 AND WHAT THEY WERE. 8i 

ton, for many years, added the care of the body to that of the 
soul. Lawyers were not tolerated in the colony, but convey- 
ances, wills and other legal writings were executed by 
Anthony Thacher, Edmund Hawes and John Miller, accord- 
ing to the formulas of English practice. The common law 
of England, modified by their situation here, and illuminated 
by scripture teachings, was the sufficient guide in their civil 
concerns. 

Such were the men and women, such the daily life, and 
such the objects and purposes of the first settlers of Yar- 
mouth. It has been made evident that their aim was not to 
found a great and powerful community, but to escape eccle- 
siastical tyranny and live in independence of spiritual 
restraints. The little care they took to preserve the record 
of their lives and proceedings, shows that they had no pur- 
pose to seek the favorable verdict of posterity or to secure 
the applause of future ages. The noble verse of Bryant 
doubtless expresses the utter absence of self-seeking which 
governed their action in coming hither : 

" They little thought how pure a light 

With years should gather round that day; 
How love should keep their memory bright, 
How wide a realm their sons should sway." 

The reverence and love, which for generations have 
embalmed their memories, were hidden from their sight. 
But in obeying the promptings of conscience and the voice of 
duty, with deep humility of spirit, but with grand and heroic 
faith and self-devotion, they founded a community, which for 
seven or eight generations has been distinguished for virtue, 
intelligence and the generous affections of its people. Thus 
they builded greater than they knew. 

" So nigh is grandeur to our dust, 
So near is God to man ; 
When duty whispers low, " Thou must," 
The man replies, " I can." 



82 OLD YARMOUTH. 

The limit of their own neighborhood is not the sole nor 
the most important witness to their character and achieve- 
ments. They have impressed their characteristics upon the 
commercial centres of the country, and influenced the pro- 
fessional and social life of many and remote communities. 



CHAPTER IX. 
FURTHER PROGRESS OF THE TOWN. 

Uneventfid Annals — Eel River Bridge — Drift Whales — Military Consultations — Death 
of Rev. John Lothrop of Barnstable — Expedition against the Dutch — Mamages 
by Magistrates — Mashantampaigne summoned to Court — Janno's Complaints 
against the Grantees — Freemen in 1656 — The Quakers — The People Admonished 
to Support the Ministry — Drift Whales, again — Fatal Results of a Wrestling Match 
— Warning out of Town — Mr. Thornton Commences his Ministry — Consumption 
of Liquors — A Wild Lark — Disciplining Scoffers— Monomoyick to be "Within the 
Liberties of Yarmouth" — Selectmen Appointed — Punished for Disturbing meetings 
and making Opprobrious Speeches of Mr. Thornton — Freemen in 1670 — Collect- 
ing the Ministerial Rates — End of the Controversy with William Nickerson — Death 
of Gov. Prence and Accession of J osias Winslow — Monomoyick and Satucket set 
off to Eastham — Difficulties with Mashantampaigne — Yarmouth Acquittance to the 
Grantees — The Cape Indians Renew their Covenant with the English. 

FROM the time of the division of the lands, and thencefor- 
ward for a considerable period, the annals of the town 
were uneventful and quiet, with the exception of the ministe- 
rial troubles, which have already been adverted to, and which 
found their way into the courts, and were obtruded, when 
least called for, into the ordinary life of the people. 

In March, 165 1, the court granted to Capt. Standish a par- 
cel of forty or fifty acres of land " within the liberties of Yar- 
mouth," as compensation for his services as a committee to 
settle the titles of the public lands. 

In 1652, Sandwich and Yarmouth were presented for not 
building a bridge over Eel River, in Plymouth. The court 
had previously ordered the Cape towns to contribute to the 
cost of the building of this bridge, but the towns, believing 
the work to be more especially a local convenience for the 
people of Plymouth, resisted the order. But they were final- 
ly obliged to succumb to the superior influence of Plymouth, 
and pay a portion of the cost. 



84 OLD YARMOUTH, 

"Mr. Howes" was appointed to "receive the oil of the 
country," for this town, the government claiming a portion of 
the products of all whales cast on shore within the colony, 
William Hedge was presented for selling liquors to the 
Indians ; but this did not prevent the court from apjDointing 
him, the same year, to the important office of ensign-bearer 
of the military company. 

In 1653 the towns were directed to send deputies to meet 
the magistrates for consultation upon military affairs, in con- 
nection with the differences between Holland and the moth- 
er country. Sergeant Rider and John Gorham were sent by 
this town. In the conference that ensued, the May follow- 
ing, the colony voted to raise 60 men; of these, Yarmouth 
was to furnish six. The neighboring town of Barnstable 
sustained a great loss in the death of their pastor. Rev. John 
Lothrop. This devoted minister was endowed with great 
wisdom in secular matters, as well as with spiritual gifts of a 
high order, and some of the Yarmouth people, when theolog- 
ical controversies ran high, attended his meetings. Francis 
Baker was presented by the court for "selling wines with- 
out a license," and Josiah Hallet and Thomas Gage of this 
town, for sailing their vessel from Sandwich to Boston on 
the Lord's day. 

The next vear, 1654, the council of war issued warrants for 
raising 50 men to go on an expedition against the Dutch at 
Manhatten, 4 of whom were assigned as the proportion of 
Yarmouth. A second call for a like number was also honor- 
ed. 

In 1655, Mr. Anthony Thacher was appointed to join per- 
sons in marriage. Marriage was regarded by our fathers, for 
a considerable period, as a civil contract. At what time this 
ceremony was assumed by the clergy, does not appear. Six 
wolves were killed in town by the Indians, and bounty was 
claimed therefor. Three men were raised to join a troop 
of horse. 



FURTHER PROGRESS OF THE TOWN. 85 

In 1656, William Nickerson of this town, "for buying lands 
of the Indians, and for selling them a boat, was disfranchised. 
This was the beginning of a series of difficulties with the 
authorities, in which Mr. Nickerson was involved, and which 
were a fruitful source of controversy and bad feeling for 
many succeeding years. 

Massantampaigne, the Indian sagamore, was brought 
before the court on a charge of having stolen a gun, on which 
he was cleared, the court being of the opinion "that the gun 
was his." He was also accused of having a chest full of 
tools stolen from the English, and proudly "delivered up his 
keys to Mr. Prince, so that he may search his chest." The 
complaint of John Darby against him, that "his dogs did him 
wrong among his cattle, and did much hurt one of them," 
was ordered to be inquired into. We hear no more of this 
matter. These proceedings are interesting as showing that 
the Indians, only sixteen years after the settlement, were 
completely under subjection to the colonial laws. 

Janno, an Indian sachem, having complained that lands 
belonging to him in Yarmouth vv-hich were purchased by Mr. 
Thacher and Mr. Howes had not been paid for, Mr. John 
Alden and Lieutenant Southworth were appointed to settle 
the controversy. The result is embodied in the following 
documents : 

" A writing appointed to be recorded : 
WHiereas there hath been some unhappy differences between 
the town of Yarmouth and their committees, concerning 
some lands which they apprehended were formerly purchased 
of Janno, but through some neglect of theirs in not paying of 
the Indian for the said lands, have been of late denied by 
him to be sold, and the possessors molested; Mr. John Alden 
and Capt. Josias Winslow being ordered by the court to hear, 
and if it might be, determine such differences as were either 
between the English before mentioned or between the com- 
mittees and the Indians, the town of Yarmouth having made 
choice of Mr. Edmund Hawes, Robert Dennis, Ed. Sturges, 



86 OLD YARMOUTH. 

and Thomas Boardman, and empowered them to manage 
and issue their aforesaid differences, there being propositions 
made on both sides tending to a composure, yet they not ful- 
ly closing their propositions, but referring it, by mutual 
agreement, to the abovesaid Mr. John Alden and Capt. 
Josias Winslow as umpires, to determine between them about 
the premises : We the abovesaid John Alden and Josias 
Winslow do determine as followeth, viz: That the charge of 
the purchase, as now agreed upon between us and Jano, shall 
be equally borne between the said committees and the town ; 
and further, that the other six pounds, which is charges that 
the town have been at about this business, shall be four 
pounds of it borne by the town, and by Mr. Anthony Thatch- 
er and Mr. Howes, twenty shillings apiece, and of this latter 
six pounds, old Mr. Crow to be excused ; and that this be a 
final end of all differences about the premises. 

May 14th, 1668. John Alden, 

Josias Winslow." 

Another document is as follows : "May, Anno Dom., 1658. 
Witnesseth these presents, that Janno hath, the day and 
year above written, for and in consideration of six coats, six 
pairs of small breeches, ten hoes, ten hatchets, two brass 
kettles, the one of six spans, and the other of seven, of Joan- 
no's aforesaid spans, and one iron kettle of six spans, to be 
paid to him, Joanno, or his assignees, the one half moiety, by 
the first of August next ensuing the date hereof, and the 
other half moiety by the middle of May, which shall be in the 
year of our Lord, 1659, bargained, sold, and confirmed unto 
Mr. John Alden and Josias Winslow, in the behalf of the 
townsmen of Yarmouth, all that tract and tracts of land, 
both uplands and meadows, lying and being between the 
Bass Pond River and a river called by an Indian name Tam- 
ahappasouakou, by the English the Fresh River, and so 
along that river to the great swamp at the head thereof, and 
from the westermost end of the said swamp on a straight line 
through the land into Stoney Cove River, with all the profits. 



FURTHER PROGRESS OF THE TOWN. 87 

perquisites, and appurtenances thereunto or to any part or 
parcel thereof in any wise belonging, to have and to hold the 
said tracts of land to the town of Yarmouth forever, and de- 
fend and save harmless from time to time the said townsmen 
of Yarmouth, and every of them, of and fron: all titles, 
claims, and molestations which shall be made by any Indian 
or Indians to the said tract of land, or any part or parcel of 
the same, at any time hereafter. In testimony whereof the 
said Joanno hereunto hath set his mark. 

"The mark X of the said Joanno. 
" In presence of 
Thomas Dexter, 

The mark of [ — ] Josias, an Indian, 
The mark of Nick ;^, an Indian." 
A list of Freemen of this town taken about this year, com- 
prises the following names : 

Mr. Anthony Thacher, Samuel Arnold, 

James Matthews, Thos. Falland, 

Mr. John Crow, Richard Sears, 

Mr. Edmund Hawes, Richard Hoar, 

Mr. Thos. Howes, Mr. Yelverton Crow, 

Edward Sturges, Emanuel White, 

Mr. John Miller, Joseph Howes. 

This year, the troubles occasioned by the appearance of 
the Quakers, led the court to enlarge the power of one 
George Barlow, who for seven years had exercised the office 
of Marshal for Sandwich, to extend over Barnstable and Yar- 
mouth. There seems to have been little or no occasion for 
this step, so far as this town is concerned. The incidental 
information which we gather from the court records, in which 
parties were arraigned for speaking disrespectfully of the 
clergy, or " villifying the ministry," as the language of the 
times expressed it, has reference, it is believed, to the war- 
fare which was waged against this people, and the disappro- 
bation which was sometimes expressed relative to the harsh 
measures which were taken to suppress them. But so far as 



88 OLD YARMOUTH. 

this town is concerned, it does not appear that any proceed- 
ings were instituted against this sect. 

An agreement was made in 1658 by four men chosen 
jointly by both towns, viz: Mr. Thomas Prince, Richard 
Chadwell, Richard Higgins and Richard Bourne, that the 
boundary between Barnstable and Yarmouth, " extending 
into the sea shall be, from the middle of the mouth of Stoney 
Cove creek, to run due north into the sea." 

In 1659 the court mentions approvingly that sundry inhab- 
itants of this town were ready to discharge their duty, 
according to their ability, for the encouragement and support 
of the ministry, but condemned those who were not so dis- 
posed. They therefore ordered the constable to summon 
both church and town to meet and ascertain what each man 
will engage to do towards making up ^40 or ^50 yearly 
for the purpose. In default of which, four men were to be 
appointed to do this work, and if the citizens did not appoint 
them, Mr. Anthony Thacher, Mr. Thomas Boardman, Rich- 
ard Sears and Andrew Hallet were designated, with power 
to enforce payment by the delinquents. This order shows 
so great a feeling of indifference to their religious duties on 
the part of the citizens, that it is not strange that Mr. Mil- 
ler's ministry was terminated, soon after, either in the 
following year, or not long subsequently. 

The rights of parties finding drift whales on the Cape 
were for some time a matter of controversy, and in 1661, a 
proposition was sent to the Cape towns, which, after some 
delay several of them finally complied with. By this agree- 
ment it was provided that for every whale that should be 
secured two barrels of oil should be delivered at Boston, at 
the place designated by the Treasurer of the Plymouth Colo- 
ny, free of charge to the government. This agreement was 
signed by Anthony Thacher, Robert Dennis, Thomas Board- 
man, and Richard Taylor, in behalf of the town of Yar- 
mouth. 

The fatal results of a wrestling match, which appears to 



FURTHER PROGRESS OF THE TOWN. 89 

have been one of the sports to which our ancestors were 
addicted, is thus noted : John Hawes of Yarmouth was 
indicted for giving Joseph Rogers of Eastham "a most dead- 
ly fall in Dec. 1660, whereof and whereupon he did most 
vehemently complain, and about forty-eight hours after died." 
The Grand Jury found a true bill, and he was tried before a 
jury, of which Mr. Josias Winslow was foreman, who brought 
in a verdict of not guilty. 

Richard Child, by order of the court was required to 
desist from building a cottage at Yarmouth. This matter 
of " warning out of town " undesirable settlers, has the 
appearance of unreasonable exclusiveness, in a new country 
where land was abundant, but it was in accordance with 
sound public policy and implied no disrespect to the charac- 
ter of the person thus dealt with. If Richard Child had 
been permitted to build without protest, he would have been 
entitled to a personal right in the common lands, a tenement 
right, and if unfortunate in his business affairs, his family 
would have a large claim for support by the town. Men 
who subsequently proved good citizens were thus warned, 
and the custom seems to have been no more than a proper 
precaution on the part of the authorities. Mr. Thomas 
Paine was authorized to purchase lands at Setucket for his 
mill. 

It is probable that the ministerial labors of the third pastor 
of the church. Rev. Thomas Thornton, commenced about 
the year 1663, though his installation into the pastoral office 
did not occur until 1667. After the withdrawal of Mr. Mil- 
ler and before the establishment here of Mr. Thornton, Rev. 
Thomas Walley, who afterwards settled in Barnstable, 
resided in town and owned lands, and was connected with 
the church. 'Tn a communication presented to the Govern- 
or and Assistants by fifteen members of this church, in April 
of that year, it appears that an effort was made to discourage 
Mr, Thornton from taking office here. Certain " jalain 
words " had been spoken against a sermon of his upon the 



90 OLD YARMOUTH. 

second of Romans, which the brethren reir?>.rded in the lisht 
of slander, and they are at pains to say that they do not know 
of anything in that sermon or any other dehvered by him 
that was not in accordance with truth ; intimating at the 
same time that such calumniators of the ministry should 
be discountenanced, particularly in such times of declension."' 

An inventory of the spirituous liquors brought into town 
June and July 1662, shows that six different persons brought 
here one hundred and twelve gallons. As a sequel, it is 
recorded that Teague Jones, for being "overtaken with drink, 
having formerly been a transgressor in that kind, was fined 
fifty shillings." 

The agents of Yarmouth appeared at court, " to debate 
and have determined a difference about whales." 

An invoice of liquors brought into town during the year 
1663, will give some idea of the extent of the drinking habits 
of the times : 

" A Note of the particulars of the Liquors that have been 
brought into the town of Yarmouth, since May 1663, and 
envoiced. 

Item, Mr. Hedge a quarter cask of liquors. 

Item, Samuel Sturgis 10 gallons. 

Item, Edward Sturgis, Sr. 10 gallons. 

Item, Edward Sturgis, Jr. 10 gallons. 

Item, Elisha Hedge, 10 gallons. 

Item, Mr. Hedge, 10 gallons and 5 cases. 

Item, Mr. Thacher, 3 cases. 

Mr. Hedge, Edw. Sturgis, Sr. and Sam'l Sturgis, 17 gallons. 

Nathaniel Covell, 10 gallons. 

Teague Jones, 10 gallons envoiced, and one case forfeit 
to the country. 

Richard Michell, 10 gallons. 

Anthony Thacher, 
Robert Dennis." 

' The original of this vahiable document is in possession of H. C. Thacher, Esq., to 
whose courtesy we are indebted for the copies herewith bound in this book. 












o^ vk^a ^U«r e>C-l)tfrcxr^-*^'{^ fflo^ //^'J ^"^"^^ ''^ • •^f t^ -.MA^JKj \^<r^i>-Wr- 










FURTHER PROGRESS OF THE TOWN. 91 

Messrs. Thacher and Dennis were also inspectors of 
anchors, lead, powder and shot, as well as liquors. At the 
next term of the court, it was voted that, "in regard of much 
abuse of liquors in the town of Yarmouth, this court doth 
call in any license formerly given to Edward Sturgis, Sr., 
and do require that he forbear to draw wines or liquors for 
the future, without further orders from the court." 

Early in the same year a party of residents of this town 
indulged in an escapade quite in conflict with the customs of 
the times, and their names subsequently appeared in the 
court records, which inform posterity that "Josias Hallet and 
Thomas Starr of Yarmouth went to the house of John 
Doane, Jr., at Eastham, and finding no one at home, behaved 
themselves uncivilly therein, ransacking the house for 
liquors, and drinking thereof, and writing and setting up in 
the house a libellous and scandalous paper of verses and 
leaving them there. Elisha Hedge and Samuel Sturgis were 
also deemed guilty, in some degree, though not so deeply as 
the former." The two first were ordered to find sureties, for 
their good behavior until the next court and pay each a fine 
of fifty shillings ; the two latter to find sureties and pav each 
a fine of thirty shillings. 

Liquor legislation was a disturbing element here as it has 
been ever since. The court this year fined Edward Sturgis 
for bringing liquor into town without giving seasonable 
notice to those appointed to invoice it, and in the subsequent 
year Elisha Hedge, for breaking bulk before giving notice 
v/hat liquors he had brought into town, was adjudged to have 
forfeited 16 gallons thereof. 

In 1644 John Marchant was appointed and approved by 
the court to be ensign bearer of the military company of 
Yarmouth. It was also ordered that the general training- 
shall be in Yarmouth this year. The court enacted that cor- 
poral punishment should be inflicted upon any who deny the 
scriptures — which may have scaled their lips if it did not 
restrain their thoughts ; also that no minister should leave 



92 OLD YARMOUTH. 

his charge without referring the matter to the magistrates, 
who were empowered to compel congregations to support the 
preaching of the gospel. 

In 1665, in consequence of the controversy between the 
court and William Nickerson, it was ordered "that Manna- 
moit be within the liberties of Yarmouth, as Bound Brook 
and Stoney Brook are, until otherwise ordered." Also 
appointed Mr. Hinckley, Richard Bourne, and Nathaniel 
Bacon "to purchase some land of the Indians in behalf of 
the town of Yarmouth." 

In 1666, Mr. Anthony Thacher, Mr. Edmund Hawes, 
James Matthews, John Miller and Joseph Howes were 
approved by the court as Selectmen for Yarmouth. This is 
the first mention of these officers in this town, although the 
law providing for their appointment was passed in 1662. 
They were required to be chosen by the townsmen from the 
freemen ; were to hear cases of not over forty shillings ; to 
observe those who reside in the colony without leave ; 
those who do not attend public worship ; to provide for the 
poor ; to encourage education ; to hear and determine all 
differences between the English and the Indians, in their 
respective townships, about damage done to cornfields, by 
cows, swine or other beasts. By a subsequent statute, they 
were empowered to summon witnesses, and to determine 
controversies, according to legal evidence. They were, also, 
in a restricted sense, a court of justice. Their appointment 
was subject to the approval of the court. 

In 1667, Wm. Lumpkin and Peter Worden were fined los 
each, for "disturbance in Yarmouth meeting-house," which 
consisted of talking together during service. John Miller 
was licensed to keep an ordinary. Nicholas Nickerson, for 
making opprobrious speeches against Rev. Thomas Thorn- 
ton, saying of a certain sermon, that " half of it was lies," 
was obliged to retract and express regret, though it is doubt- 
ful if he felt it. 

In 1669, sundry persons were fined 5s each, "for smoking 



FURTHER PROGRESS OF THE TOWN. 93 

tobacco at the end of Yarmouth meeting-house, during the 
Lord's day, in the time of exercise." 

List of the freemen of the town. May 29, 1670 : 

Mr. John Crow, Yelverton Crow, 

Thomas Falland, Joseph Howes, 

Ema.nuel White, John Thacher, 

James Matthews, Henry Vincent, 

Mr. Edmund Hawes, Samuel Sturgis, 

Mr. John Vincent, Judah Thacher, 

Jeremiah Howes, Thomas Howes, 

John Miller, John Hawes, 

Edward Sturgis, Senr. Kenelme Winslow, 

Richard Sears. 
In 1670, the court passed an important order, in relation 
to the support of the ministry. Heretofore the ministers 
were required to collect their ov.ai salaries, which, for obvious 
reasons, was a very unpleasant matter to them. It was now 
directed that two persons be chosen in each township, unless 
the towns made the proper provisions, to take care of gather- 
ing the minister's salary, and if need be, to distrain upon the 
estates of those delinquent. And every plantation was 
required to support a settled minister, in default of which, 
the court was to interpose to enforce the payment. This, 
and subsequent orders, indicates a tendency among a portion 
of the population to evade and neglect their religious duties. 
A love of acquisition, particularly of lands, had also been 
developed, which occasioned much solicitude among the 
more spiritually-minded. 

In 1 67 1 three persons of Yarmouth were fined 30s. each 
"for sailing from Yarmouth to Boston on the Lord's day," 
and three others were summoned to appear to answer a like 
accusation. One person was fined for "svv^earing." 

The year 1672 witnessed a settlement of the controversy 
with William Nickerson, growing out of his attempt to pur- 
chase lands at Mannamoit. This controversy was of long 
standing. In 1656 he was disfranchised, "for buying lands 
of the Indians." The next year he petitioned the court 



94 OLD YARMOUTH. 

that his lands at Mannamoit be confirmed to him, and it was 
ordered that " the lands be viewed, and that he have a com- 
petency allowed him, and the rest to be resigned to the gov- 
ernment." In 1659 he was "allowed his lands." In 1665 
he and his sons and son-in-law petitioned for liberty to settle 
a township at Mannamoit. In 1665, being charged with 
"illegally purchasing lands of the Indians," he submitted him- 
self to the clemency of the court, and was allowed one hun- 
dred acres near his house. The rest of the land at Manna- 
moit was granted to Mr. Thomas Hinckley, Mr. John Free- 
man, Mr. Wm. Sargeant, Mr. Anthony Thacher, Nathaniel 
Bacon, Edmund Hawes, Thomas Howes, Sr., and Lieut. 
Joseph Rogers, in equal proportions, said William Nickerson 
to have an equal proportion with them in the meadow lands. 
It was ordered that all said lands appertain to and shall be 
within the liberties of the township of Yarmouth. The pen- 
alty of ;^5 for every acre illegally purchased of the Indians 
by the said Nickerson was remitted. Other persons having 
purchased lands in Mannamoit without a grant from the court, 
conflicting with the rights of the aforesaid parties, a compro- 
mise was effected in 1672, Mr. Nickerson agreeing to pay 
them a valuable consideration; and a conveyance was made 
to him by the general court, confirming his claim, in the face 
of former controversies ; and the settlement of Mannamoit 
proceeded, without further impediment. During the pro- 
gress of this controversy much bitterness of feeling was 
engendered. In 1667 Mr. Nickerson was called to answer 
for words spoken against the preaching. The previous year, 
he and his sons were arraigned for scandalously reproaching 
the court, in a letter to the Governor of New York, and put 
under bonds of ^^oo. In 1667 he and his sons were set in 
the stocks for resisting the constable in the performance of 
his duty; and refusing to find sureties for his good behavior, 
he was committed to prison and remained three days, at the 
end of which he relented, and found the required sureties. 
Nothing except matters of dogma excited so much feeling in 



FURTHER PROGRESS OF THE TOWN. 95 

those days as the acquisition of lands. Mr. Nickerson 
doubtless felt that he had been arbitrarily and unjustly dealt 
with in these affairs, and spoke and acted under a bitter sense 
of injury ; but he was still recognized as one of them, by men 
of Christian character, and it does not appear that he was 
entirely at fault in all respects. 

Gov. Prince dying in 1673, he was succeeded by Josias 
Winslow, a younger and more liberal magistrate. Gov. 
Prince had been stern and unyielding in his dealings with 
the Quakers and their sympathizers ; his successor 
adopted a more conciliatory policy, with happy results. 
Major Cudworth, who had been disfranchised for counselling 
toleration was restored to favor and public employment. 
Isaac Robinson, son of the Leyden pastor, for a like offence 
had been also stricken from the list of freemen ; he was 
restored to public favor under the new order of affairs. 
Others who had been excluded from public employments for 
opposing the old policy, were restored to their former posi- 
tion. 

In 1674, Mannamoit, after having been for years "within 
the liberties of Yarmouth," together with Satucket, was 
included in the town of Eastham. The court appointed a 
committee "to do what they can tov/ards settling differences 
between Mashantampaine and the towns of Yarmouth and 
Barnstable." By the burning of the house of the town clerk, 
Edmund Hawes, the public records up to this date were 
destroyed. 

A memorandum of an acknowledgement executed this 
year, in the handwriting of Mr. Anthony Thacher, and wit- 
nessed by his two sons, showing that Mashantampaine, the 
sagamore of Yarmouth, had received full compensation for 
his lands, has come to light within the present generation. 
It runs thus : 

WITNESSETH THESE, that I, Masha7itampaine, Sagamore, 
do [acknowledge] that I have received of Antony Thacher, 



96 OLD YARMOUTH. 

Mr. John Crow and Mr. Thomas Howes, all and every par- 
ticular thing and things that I was to have for all and every 
part and parcel of lands, from a place called Stony Copen, 
als. Stony Cove, and thence unto a river north eastward 
issuing unto the sea, at the Eastward end of Aquiot neck, 
now called by the English Stony Brook and Saquatucket 
harbor, and bounded southerly with the land of Hoia/ia,"^ an 
Indian Sagamore, and northward with the sea, which said 
lands I sold unto Mr. William Bradford, Esq. I say I 
acknowledge myself fully satisfied and paid, and thereof and 
of every pte and parcel thereof I do forever acquit the said 
Antony Thacher, John Crow and Thomas Howes ; in 
witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand the 8th day of 
May 1657. 

. The mark of f ^ 
Masshantampaign e 

Signed and delivered in the 
presence of 
John Thacher, 
JuDAH Thacher. 
There were present Mr. John Crov/e, his vv^ife and Eliza- 
beth Thacher, and an Indian called Felix. 

I, John Thacher, aged about thirty-five years, do testify 
that when my father took this above writing of Masshantam- 
paigne that I was by and heard him own it, and saw him set 
his hand, and I set to my name at the time as a witness. 
Taken upon oath this 9th day of February 1674. 
Before me, 

John Freeman, Assist. 

The aforesaid instrument was labelled on the back "Yar- 
mouth Acquittance." 

The Cape Indians this year renewed their covenant with the 
government, though their sachems or head men, including 
Sampson, for Nobscusset, Kencomsett, for Mattacheesett. 
This was doubtless brought about for better security against 
the perilous times which were by many felt to be approach- 
ing. 

I Probably another way of spelling lyannough. 



CHAPTER X. 
PHILIP'S WAR. 

Pi-emonitions of Trouble v/ith the Indians realized — Massasoit, Alexander and Philip — 
Murder of a Renegade Indian — War, from Maine to Rhode Island — Extent of Loss 
of Life and Property — The Cape Towns exempt from Hostilities — Capt. Gorham 
and Company march for Mount Hope — Operations without Results — Letter from 
Capt. Gorham to the Massachusetts Council — Second Expedition — Narragansett 
Swamp Fight — Death of Capt. Gorham— Third Expedition under Capt Thomas 
Howes — Other Expeditions — Names and Pay-rolls of the Companies — Pecuniary 
Burdens of the War — Friendship of the Cape Indians — Contributions of Christians 
in Ireland — Fraternal Spirit among the Tov^ns — War Rate for 1676. 

THE apprehensions of troubles with the Indians, which 
had been felt for several years, were at last unhappily 
realized. Since the death of Massasoit, his sons, Alexander 
and Philip, had more than once fallen under suspicion of a 
want of fidelity and friendship towards the English, and upon 
the death of Alexander, the disagreements with Philip 
became yearly more complicated and of frequent occurrence. 
The murder of a renega.de Indian by Philip's adherents, and 
the execution of the murderers by the government at Ply- 
mouth, precipitated the inevitable conflict, and the terrible 
struggle known as Philip's War, began. It raged for little 
over a year, from Rhode Island to Maine, and to this day 
a recital of its horrors is the most appalling page in our his- 
tory. "In Plymouth and Massachusetts," says Dr. Palfrey, 
" there were eighty or ninety towns. Of these, ten or 
twelve were wholly destroyed, and forty others more or less 
damaged by fire, making together nearly two -thirds of the 
whole number. Five or six hundred men of military age, 
one in ten or twelve of the whole, v/ere stealthily murdered 
or fell in battle, or becoming prisoners were lost sight of for 



98 OLD YARMOUTH. 

ever, an unknown number of them being put to death with 
horrible tortures." The drain upon the means of the people 
was almost ruinous, and the debt incurred by Plymouth colo- 
ny is believed to have exceeded the value of the whole per- 
sonal property of its people. The Cape towns, while happily 
exempt from direct contact with the war, bore their full part 
of its hazards, contributing their quotas of men and their 
share of the pecuniary burden. 

June 24, 1675, Capt. John Gorham, and twenty-nine men 
of Yarmouth, took their march for Mount Hope, mounted and 
equipped for service. When they arrived the theatre of 
war had been transferred to the banks of the Connecticut. 
After the defeat of Capt. Lothrop at Sugar Loaf Hill, they 
marched into Massachusetts and pursued the enemy, without 
results. The following letter, written by Capt. Gorham is 
on file in the Secretary of State's office in Boston : 

Mendum, October the i, 1675. 
Much Honored : My service with all due respects humbly 
presented to yourself and unto the rest of the Council hoping 
of your healths. I have made bold to trouble you with these 
few lines to give your honors an account of our progress in 
your jurisdiction. According unto your honors' order and 
determination I arrived at Mendum with fifty men, and the 
next day Lieutenant Upham arrived with thirty-eight men, 
and the day following we joined our forces together and 
marched in pursuit to find our enemy, but God hath been 
pleased to deny us any opportunity therein; — though with 
much labor and travel we had endeavored to find them out, 
which Lieut. Upham hath given you a more particular 
account. Our soldiers being much worn but having been in 
the field this fourteen weeks and a little hopes of finding the 
enemy, we are this day returning toward our General, but as 
for my own part, I shall be ready to serve God and the 
country in this just war, so long as I have life and health; 



PHILIP'S WAR. 99 

not else to trouble you, I rest yours to serve in what I am 
able. , John Gorrum. 

In October following Capt. Gorham was appointed to the 
command of the second company of Plymouth forces, with 
Jonathan Sparrow of Eastham for Lieutenant, their objective 
point being the Narragansett country. There were fifteen 
Yarmouth men in that company. They were in the sanguin- 
ary fight at what was known as the Swamp Fort, fought Dec. 
19, 1675. This fort Vv^as on an island containing five or six 
acres, situated in an immense swamp, was surrounded with a 
thick hedge and strengthened with palisades. The two 
entrances, which were by trees felled over watery spaces, 
were defended with great care by houses containing sharp- 
shooters, and was garrisoned by 3500 warriors. After a 
four hours fight the fort was taken. About 80 of the assail- 
ants lost their lives and 150 were wounded. The loss of the 
Indians was thought to be one thousand, a large part of it 
being incurred in the general rout, after the fort was taken, 
when the English finished their work by setting fire to the 
wigwams ; after which, marching a dozen miles in a falling 
snow, they reached a place of rest. The march was one of 
great hardship and suffering. Capt. Gorham contracted a 
fever from which he never recovered, and died and was 
buried in Swansey, the February following. Sergeant Nath- 
aniel Hall of Yarmouth was wounded ; none of the men from 
the Cape were killed. 

In the third expedition Yarmouth furnished nine one 
month men, under Capt. Thomas Howes. The destination 
and nature of the service performed by this company is not 
stated, nor indicated in any of the records. For the fourth 
expedition, the town pressed nine men to join the con.pany 
of Capt. Michael Pierce of Scituate, who was led into an 
ambuscade near Rehoboth, and his company slaughtered, to 
the number of 52 whites and 11 friendly Indians, all of the 
former class but one. The whole of the Yarmouth men were 



loo OLD YARMOUTH. 

not in the fight, as five only from this town were reported 
killed, viz : John Matthews,' John Gage, Wm. Gage, Henry- 
Gage, Henry Gold. 5 from Sandwich, 6 from Barnstable 
and 4 from Eastham were among the slain. The fifth 
expedition consisted of 21 men, under Capt. Thomas Hov/es. 
The sixth and last expedition, in service one week, consisted 
of Ensign John Thacher and 5 men, " to pursue Totoson the 
Indian." 

The second book of town records gives the names and 
pay-rolls of the troops, as follows : 

A List of the Soldiers of Yarmouth that were pressed into 
the country's service, and that went to Mount Hope against 
our enemies the Indians in the year 1675, and took their first 
march upon the 24th June, '75. The sum of each man's 
wages as followeth — 

Capt. John Gorham 

Corp. Sam. Hall 

Corp. Nath. Hall 

Thorn. Thornton 

Daniel Baker 

Thomas Falland 

Ben. Rider 

Richard Taylor, Jr. 

Jonathan Smith 

Sam. Howes 

Joseph Severance 

John Crowell 

William Folland 

Richard Lacke 

John Chase i 04 00 

John Matthews 

Joseph Edgelston 

Joseph Hall 3 09 00 

Yelverton Crowell i 07 00 

Thos. Baxter 7 13 00 

^ It is probable that the reported death of John Matthews vras incorrect. There was 
known to be but one person by that name in town over fourteen years of age at that time, 
and he lived to old age. 



12 


02 


09 


^ 

J 


00 


00 


II 


12 


00 


7 


13 


CO 





03 


00 


2 


05 


00 


6 


I'S 


00 


7 


07 


00 


7 


07 


00 


I 


16 


00 


I 


16 


00 


7 


07 


00 


I 


04 


00 


3 


03 


00 



PHILIP'S WAR. 



lor 



Sam. Thomas 
Sam. Jones 
Jonathan White 
Joseph Whiting 
Wm. Baker 
John Gage 
James Claghorn 
John Pudgely 
John Berry 
William Gray 



Horses lost at Mount Hope service- 
Mr. Thomas Thornton's 
Ben Rider's 
Jonathan Smith's 
Paul Sears's 
John Crowell's 
Mr. Mayo's 
Ensign Thacher's 
Thomas Boardman's 
Annanias Wing's 



For the hire of horses 

The loss of arms, ammunition and money 

Loss in saddles and bridles 

Second expedition to Narragansett — 

Capt. Gorham 

Sergeant Wm. Gray 

Corp. John Hallet 
I Annanias Wing 

Ben Hall 

Sam. Eldridge 

Henry Gold 

William Chase 

James Claghorn 

John Pudgely 

Sam. Baker 

Richard Taylor 

John Whiting 



7 


13 00 


8 


1 1 00 


8 


II 00 


8 


II 00 


8 


II 00 


8 


II 00 


7 


13 00 


8 


I [ 00 


7 


13 00 


£164 


08 09 


I 


00 00 



j£g 00 00 




10 00 


00 


21 13 


00 


II 15 


10 


^00 00 00 




6 12 




5 02 




2 14 




4 10 




4 10 




3 16 




4 10 




4 10 




4 10 




4 10 




3 12 





102 OLD YARMOUTH, 

Sergeant Nath. Hall 12 06 

Henry Gage 4 10 



£6^ 12 00 
Loss of arms to Narragansett, and ammunition — 

The arms come to 7 09 00 

The ammunition for which is 15 06 

The third expedition, with Capt. Howes — for one month's 
service — 

Capt. Thos. Howes 6 00 00 

Sergeant Sam. Hall 3 

Lemuel Hedge i 16 
John Matthews 

John Whiting Jr. i 16 

Sam. Thomas i 16 

Sam. Jones i 16 

John Gage i 16 

Ben Rider i 16 



£\c) 16 00 

Arms lost and expense of money and ammunition, 

and other expenses to the said service ;!^ 4 03 09 

To the fourth expedition against our enemy Yarmouth press- 
ed nine men, with Capt. Perse, with each man's wag- 
es : 

►'Henry Gold 

►^John Gage 

tWm. Gage 

-Henry Gage 
Wm. Nickerson /' 
James Maker y 
John Whiting . 

- John Matthews 
Ben Rider 

£. 19 02 00 

Loss and damage in the said expedition, 8 05 00 
Yarmouth's disbursements to Indians in, this 

war, in 1675 and '76, and billeting soldiers 5 00 00 



2 


05 


00 


2 


05 




2 


05 




3 


03 




2 


14 




2 


18 




2 


14 
18 





PHILIP'S WAR. 103 

The fifth expedition to Plymouth with Capt. 

Howes and twenty-one men, 11 13 00 

The sixth expedition, Ensign John Thacher 
and five men, to pursue Totoson the 
Indian; their wages for one week a- 
mounts to 3 05 00 

More expended in provision to soldiers to 

Plymouth, i 10 00 

The pecuniary burdens of the war were not so great in the 
Cape towns as in the other parts of the colony, because their 
industrial pursuits were not so greatly interfered with, but 
were still exceedingly onerous. Of the sums paid by the 
towns, as their proportion of the general assessment of ;^iooo, 
voted by the court in 1676, the amount assigned to Yar- 
mouth was ;^74 15s. 6d. In June, an additional levy of men 
was made, and £14 was assessed to Yarmouth for this pur- 
pose. In July the tax of the colony was £,l6()2 i6s 02d ; of 
this, the proportion of Yarmouth was £,266 01. 

During these troublous times the friendship of the Cape 
Indians remained steadfast and immovable. Great efforts 
were made by Philip and his emissaries to detach them from 
the cause of the English, but without avail. They were 
naturally a more mild and docile race than the Indians of the 
interior, but this does not entirely explain their position. To 
the efforts that had been so assiduously, and in the best 
spirit of Christian philanthropy, made by men like Richard 
Bourne of Sandwich, Rev. Mr. Treat of Eastham, and Rev. 
Thomas Thornton of Yarmouth, to christianize and civilize 
them, must, in a large degree, be attributed their pacific dis- 
position and conduct, in this hour of peril and need. The 
best authorities agree that not less than 500 to 600 Indians, 
able to bear arms, were then living on the Cape. It is not 
too much to say, that with these Indians actively hostile, or 
even unfriendly, the struggle, if not doubtful, would have 
been for an indefinite period prolonged. Neither should it 



104 OLD YARMOUTH. 

be forgotten that the justice in dealing with them, of our 
Cape ancestors — buying and honestly paying for the lands 
they occupied — was such as would naturally incline the In- 
dians to amity. 

An act of benevolence and friendship from across the wa- 
ter, growing out of the troubles of the times, is found record- 
ed in the court records. " Divers Christians in Ireland " 
contributed and sent out the sum of £124. los. for the relief 
of the sufferers by the war. Of this sum only los. was as- 
signed in the distribution to Yarmouth, a comparatively 
small sum, because of the greater suffering of the more ex- 
posed communities, to whom the larger portion was granted. 
It is somewhat remarkable that, from the "divers Christians" 
in England and Wales, no word of cheer greeted the strug- 
gling colonists, and no contribution is recorded from their 
old home, in this dark and perilous period. 

The spirit of fraternity and good will was kept alive among 
the colonists through the whole of their terrible struggle. 
The towns of Rehoboth, Taunton and Bridgewater, having 
been devastated by the enemy, the Cape towns sent their 
people a cordial invitation to come to them with their mova- 
bles, for preservation and safety. Answers were returned, 
filled with grateful acknowledgments, but, for prudential 
reasons, the offers were declined. 

Councils of War, for each town of the colony, were chosen 
by the court, Edmund Hawes, John Miiler and Jeremiah 
Howes constituting the members from Yarmouth. 

A "Rate" made the year 1676, "towards the charges of 
the late war," signed by Edmund Hawes, Samuel Rider and 
James Matthews, shows the names of the tax-payers of the 
town, and their comparative taxable property : 

Yelverton Crowe, £4 i jWm. Folland, 13 i 

Richard Berry, i 10 3, Samuel Rider, 526 

John Miller, 3 8 Qjoseph Rider, 2 14 3 



PHILIFS WAR, 



lO: 



Elizabeth Taylor, 
Rd. Taylor, 
Hy. Whelden, 
David O'Kelia, 
Teague Merrihew, 
Zachary Rider, 
Wm. Eldridge, 
Joshua Allen, 
Sam. Hall, 
John Hall, Sr, 
Hy. Vincent, 
Kenelme Winslow, 
Wm. Griffin, 
Wm. Chase, 
Peter Worden, 
Joseph Severance, 
Samuel Worden, 
John Dillingham, 
John Wing, 

''Annanias Wing, 

^Joseph Wing, 
John Baker, 
Judah Thacher, 
Samuel Jones, 
William Gray, 
James Bursell, 
Anthony Fray, 
Abisha Marchant, 
Mr. Sunderland, 
Mr. Thornton, 
Sarah Matthews, 
Joseph Hall, 
Francis Baker, 
John Merrihew, 
Andrew Hallet, 
Hosea Joyce, 
John Crowe, Sr., 

^ Wm. Hall, 
Zachariah Paddock, 
Capt. Howes, 
John Rider, 
John Hawes, 



2 17 

2 6 
r 4 
15 
12 
6 
8 
10 

9 
13 
10 



8 
16 

5 
6 17 

5 16 
3 6 

2 16 

1 2 

3 10 
12 

13 

2 12 



/ 
15 



1 10 

2 10 



2 6 

2 2 

ly I 

5 7 

3 10 
I 2 



7 2 
2 3 

I 



3 7 

6 7 

2 14 

3 10 



Gershom Hall, 
Samuel Matthews, 
Teague Jones, 
John Taylor, 
Samuel Crow, 
John Crow, Jr., 
Joseph Howes, 
Samuel Howes, 
Mrs. Prence, 
Nath'l Hall, 
John Whelden, Sr., 
Jeremiah Howes, 
Edw. Sturgis, Jr. 
Thomas Folland, Sr., 
John Pugsley, 
Joseph Benjamin, 
John Thacher, 
James Matthews, 
Edmund Hawes, 
Thomas Folland, Jr., 4 
Richard Michall, 
Jeremiah Jones, 
Hannah Grey, 
Richard Lake, 
John Hadaway, 
Edward Crowell, 
Mary Sturgis, 
John Fenny Sr., 
Paul Sears, 
Silas Sears, 
Mr. Mayo, 
James Meker, 
Nath'l Baker, 
Thomas Gage, 
Hugh Stuart, 
John Chase, 
Dan'l Baker, 
James Claghorn, 
Nath'l Basset, 
Thomas Boreman, 
Mrs. Gorum, 
Jabez Gorum, 



I 


13 


9 


I 


13 




2 


4 




3 


8 


10 


2 


8 


4 


I 


I 




7 


1 1 




2 


6 


9 


I 


3 


4 




15 


5 


4 


6 


7 


7 


14 




6 


14 


6 




5 


6 




IT 





2 


13 


7 


6 


6 


10 


3 






4 


9 


5 


4 


3 




2 


2 




2 


14 




I 


1 1 


-> 
J) 




14 


4 




14 


4 


I 


iS 


6 


I 




7 




16 


6 


5 


8 


7 


I 


8 


6 


2 


4 
1 1 


3 


I 


14 


2 


2 


6 


9 


2 


15 


6 




12 


4 




13 


9 


-7 


15 


3 


2 


9 


6 


I 


7 




3 


7 


6 


2 


6 


3 



io6 OLD YARMOUTH. 



John Matthews, 13 6 

John Burges, 4 

John Marchant, 2 1 1 

Mr. Yesson, of Boston, 18 



Nicholas Nickerson, 3 10 11 
John Hall, Jr., 2 15 

Elisha Hedge, 788 

Edward Sturgis, Sr.. 7 11 3 
Abram Hedge, i 7 6 

i ^297 

The alacrity and promptitude with which our fathers set 
about the payment of the obligations incurred in carrying on 
the war is worthy of special recognition. No bonds, payable 
in the distant future, were issued ; no part of the burden was 
left to be borne by posterity. They promptly ascertained 
the full amount of the indebtedness, and, though it took the 
entire personal property of the colony, they paid it up to the 
uttermost farthing. The rich farming lands at Mount Hope, 
and other haunts of the exterminated Indians, which were 
promptly confiscated, constituted the only reprisal of this 
bloody and exhausting struggle. 



CHAPTER XI. 

FROM PHILIP'S WAR TO THE UNION WITH 
MASSACHUSETTS. 

Deaths — Warning to Sawtucket People— Black-birds and Crows — Freemen in 1678 — 
Pensions— Minister's Salary — Whales cast on Shore — Half-Way Covenant— The 
White Family — Indians— Repairing the Meeting-House — County of Barnstable — Di- 
vision of Sesuet — William and Mary's War — The Whale Fishery, and Zachariah Pad- 
dock — Sir Edmund Andros's Administration — Union of Plymouth with Massachusetts. 

SEVERAL prominent citizens of the town paid the debt 
of nature in the year 1676, among them, Mr. Richard 
Sears, "the Pilgrim," Capt. Thomas Howes, and Mr. Judah 
Thacher, the two last-named, sons of grantees of the town. 
Capt. Howes had served in the war, just preceding his death. 
Rev. John Mayo also died here this year, having left Boston 
in 1673, to reside with his daughter, the wife of Joseph 
Howes. Mr. Mayo emigrated from England about 1639, was 
one of the original settlers of Barnstable, and first pastor of 
of the Second church in Boston, from 1655 to 1673. 

The first town-meeting of which any record is extant was 
held May 30th, 1677, when " the townsmen did forewarn 
John Wing and our neighbors from Sawtucket from purchas- 
ing any of our lands in the bounds of our township, of any 
Indians, or to take any possession thereof from them, as 
being contrary to court order." At a meeting held in Nov., 
it was voted, in relation to attendance at town meetings, 
" that if any townsman doth not make his appearance upon 
the second call to answer to his name, he shall be fined 6d, 
unless the townsmen accept his excuse." The license of 
Edward Sturgis to keep an ordinary, was recalled by the 



io8 OLD YARMOUTH. 

court. The growing abuse of spirituous liquors this year 
attracted the attention of the Court, which took measures to 
restrain the evil. The former regulations relating to ordi- 
naries and ordinary keepers were reaffirmed and were accu- 
rately defined, and John Hawes and Anthony Fray were 
appointed for this town to enforce the laws on the subject. 

May, 1678, voted that "every ratable person in town shall 
kill or cause to be killed six black birds or crows, by the last 
of July next, or else to pay 2s. 6d. for his neglect, and the 
fine to be added to the rate of such persons as do not bring, 
in the fall, the tail of birds, or head, to the men appointed to 
receive them." 

The names of the Freemen of the town on record in May, 
1678, were as follows : 

Joseph Burges, John Ryder, Sr. 

Joseph Hall, Jr. Joseph Ryder, 

Samuel Hall, Zach. Ryder, 

Thomas Hall, Sr. Paul Sears, 

Edmund Hawes, Silas Sears, 

John Howes, Edward Sturgis, 

Jeremiah Howes, Je. Taylor, 

Jeremiah Howes, Jr. John Thacher, 

Joseph Howes, Peter Thacher, 

Sam'l Howes, Thomas Thornton, 

John Miller, Henry Vincent, 

Zach. Paddock, Sr. Col. Winslow. 

These names were probably in addition to those before re- 
corded. 

In 1679, the town appointed a committee, consisting of 
Edward Sturgis, Joseph Howes, and John Hall, Jr., "to 
collect the residue of Mr. Thornton's salary, so that he may 
not remain unpaid of his due, to the blemish of the town." 
The disposition on the part of some of the people in all the 
towns to neglect the duty of supporting the ministry, was a 
prevailing complaint of the times, to which the judicial and 
legislative records bear witness. Mr. Thornton's salary was 



PHILIP'S WAR rO THE UNION. 109 

;^6o per year, payable, partly in money and partly in pro- 
ducts of the soil. The next year the town voted, "that half 
the stipend be paid in species ; the other part in Indian corn 
at 3s. perbu., and rye the same;" or "in any other species 
(spesya) at the price our merchants do take at." 

In 1680, Josias Winslow, Governor of Plymouth Colony, 
died, and Thomas Hinckley of Barnstable, was chosen to 
succeed him in office. An agreement was made "with our 
neighbors, the purchasers and proprietors of the land between 
Stony Brook and Bound Brook," subsequently signed by 
Annanias Wing, Paul Sears, Kenelm Winslow, and John 
Dillingham, Jr., on the one part, and by John Thacher, Sam- 
uel Howes, Thomas Sturgis and Josias Thacher on behalf of 
the town. The nature of the agreement is not disclosed, but 
is supposed to have reference to the purchase of lands. 
John Paysley, a disabled soldier from this town, was award- 
ed the sum of y^3 by the court. Nathaniel Hall, also 
of this town, was this year and the four years succeeding, 
voted various sums in consideration of the wounds he 
received in the Indian wars; in all amounting to £yo, with 
a license to keep an ordinary and sell spirituous liquors, with 
all fines collected from those in town convicted of sellino- 
contrary to law, besides ;£6 per annum for life. But the 
business became so distasteful to Mr. Hall's wife, a daughter 
of the Rev. Mr. Thornton, that he not long after gave it up 
and sold out the privilege conferred upon him. 

At a town meeting held in February, 1680, the town 
"agreed with our neighbors underwritten in their several 
bounds, to look out for and secure the town all such whales 
as by God's providence shall be cast up in their several 
bounds, for the sum of ^"4 a whale, to be paid in blubber or 
oil, till the town see cause to alter the manner : Paul Sears, 
Sam Worden, Silas Sears, John Burge, Annanias Wing, 
from Sawtucket to Sawsuit Harbor mouth. Joseph Howes, 
Sam Howes, John Hall, Jere. Howes, from Sawsuit to Yar- 



iro OLD YARMOUTH. 

mouth Harbor. John Rider, John Hallet, John Hawes, CapL 
Thacher, from Yarmouth Harbor to the Mill Creek ; and 
they are to have ;^5 for every whale that is cut up betwixt 
Gray's Beach and the Mill Creek, as aforesaid. " 

The difficulties in the church, relating to the " Half-way 
Covenant," are brought to light by incidental allusions in 
the writings of this time. The question gave our fathers a 
good deal of trouble. "The synod of 1662 had laid down 
the principle that ' church members admitted in their mi- 
nority, understanding the doctrines of faith, and publicly 
professing their assent thereto, not scandalous in life, their 
children are to be baptized.'' This was an innovation upon 
the practice of New England churches, that had uniformly 
required satisfactory evidence of regeneration before baptism ; 
but Mr. Thornton, while a minister of the Church of Eng- 
land, had adopted the custom, and continued it here, though 
some of his brethren complained of it, especially Rev. Mr. 
Cotton, then pastor at Plymouth." The application of this 
rule had a political as well as a religious bearing. Only 
church members could be freemen and magistrates, and so 
long as the views of Mr. Thornton and his sympathizers pre- 
vailed, a considerable extension of electoral rights and privi- 
leges was the result. 

An entry in the Proprietors" book of grants, made in i68r, 
is connected with a family of prominence in the future annals 
©f the town. Jonathan White was granted by the committee 
seven and one-half acres of land. He was the son of Pere- 
grine, born in Cape Cod Harbor, on board the Mayflower. 
Jonathan was born in Marshfield, 4th June, 1658, and was in 
town in 1675, and though only seventeen years of age, was 
in Capt. Gorham's company, in Philip's war. He was a black- 
smith, and his house stood on the county road, near the 
stream now called for him. White s Brook. He lived in 
Middleboro' during his. latter years. The town records cor^- 
tain the following curious entry: "Jonathan White, son of 



pmi/p's trAk Td Tim vmos\ nj 

l?eregrine and Sarah of Marshfield, b. June 4, 1658; brought 
to record by said Jonathan, May 18, 1670. Yarm. feCorded 
by me, John Miller, clerk." The family of Jonathan preserve 
the cane brought over in the Mayflower, by the father of 
Peregrine White, which has been scrupulously cared for and 
handed down, often by will, frorh father to son, from genera- 
tion to generation. It is an authentic and undoubted sou- 
venir of that historic vessel. 

At the June court, 1682, John Thacher of this town was 
chosen an Assistant. Voted by the town, that " no Indian 
Shall be permitted to gather pine knots, or run any kiln, or 
work about tar in any part of the township." This looks 
rather unjust towards the Indians, the original proprietors of 
the soil. 

May 16, 1683, the town voted, " that Capt. Thacher and 
the Selectmen shall agree with a workman to finish the 
ineeting-house, both within and without, so far as they shall 
see needful-^ ceil it with boards, glaze the windows, mend 
the window-seat.s and secure them from wet, underpin, etc. ; 
and bring in account of the charges, to be paid by rate." The 
bridges over Eel River aftd Jones's River, Plymouth, were 
ordered to be rebuilt, and Sandwich, Barnstable and Yar- 
tnouth were each assessed J^^ towards the expense. This 
town remonstrated, but without effect. 

In 1685, "the government being much enlarged," the coh 
ony was divided into three counties, viz : Plymouth, Bristol 
and Barnstable. In the County of Barnstable were seven 
towns, viz: Barnstable, Sandwich, Yarmouth, Eastham, 
Monomoyet, Succanesset, Sippecan, the three last not being 
fully organized as towns. Barnstable was made the shire 
town. Sippecan was the region comprising the present 
towns of Wareham, Rochester, Marion and Mattapoisett, but 
it did not continue for many years a portion of this County. 

In April, 1685, it was voted by the tovvn, that Sesuet neck 
be divided, and the town made choice of Capt. Th.icher, John 



112 OLD YARMOUTH. 

Miller, Thomas Sturges and Joseph Rider to make the divis- 
ion, equally to every townsman. Wm. Chase, the second 
of that name, died. 

The charges for the war against the Eastern Indians were 
apportioned by the court in Oct. 1689, at ^751, the propor- 
tion of Yarmouth being ^41. From this time until 1689, 
being the period of the government of Sir Edmund Andros, 
the functions of the local government were suspended, and 
distrust and disorder prevailed. 

In 1690 commenced what is known as William and Mary's 
^var, which lasted for seven years. The colonies responded 
to repeated calls for men, and the taxation incident to the wan 
In May, 60 men were raised from Plymouth colony, of which 
4 were from Yarmouth. In June, 153 men were called for 
from the colony, the proportion of Yarmouth being 10. The 
debt incurred by Plymouth Colony, as its share of the expense 
of the campaign, was ^1350; the proportion of Barnstable 
County was ^455 4s. 9d. ; of Yarmouth, ^104 2s. 9d, The 
ratable estate of the town was ^2777, being larger than any 
of the twenty towns in the colony, except Plymouth, Scitu- 
ate and Barnstable. 

THE WHALE FISHERY. 

In the year 1690, a native inhabitant of this town, was 
engaged to teach the people of Nantucket,, the art of killing 
whalesy by means of boats from the shore. Our coast was' 
from the earliest period of its discovery and settlement noted 
as- the resort of whales. The captain and mate of the May-- 
flower thought that the whale fishery Vi^ould be more profita- 
ble in the Bay than at Greenland, and the settlers of the 
County early turned their attention to this business. " Find-- 
ing that the people of Cape Cod bad made greater proficiency 
than themselves," Macy, the historian of the island, says, "the 
inhabitants, in 1690, sent thither and employed a man by the 
name of Ichabod Paddock to instruct chem in the best man-' 



PHILIPS WAR TO THE tiNIOAK 113 

fitt of killing whales and extracting their oil." The pursuit 
T:)f whales in boats from the shore, commenced very soon after 
the settlement, increased from year to year, till it became the 
principal branch of business with the islanders. "The 
inhabitants of this town, and of all the Cape communities, 
liad, years before, arrived at gfeat proficiency in this exciting 
pursuit, which they had followed with remarkable success as 
Xvell as profit. The title to whales cast up on shore was, 
from the earliest times, a prolific source of controversy 
between the inhabitants and the colonial authorities. The 
Usage, settled for many years, was that the finders of whales 
on shore, or within a mile thereof, should pay to the colonial 
authorities one hogshead of merchantable oil, delivered free 
of charge in Boston. The people were not, however, content 
with waiting for their prey to die and be cast upon the land, 
but pursued them with boats and captured them in the bay. 
Cotton Mather, writing on this subject in 1697, says, "They 
<the settlers of Plymouth Colony) have since passed on to 
the catching of whales, whose oil has become a staple 
commodity of the country, and within a few days of my writ' 
ing this paragraph, 1697, a cow and a calf were caught at 
Yarmouth; the cow was 55 feet long; the bone was 9 or 10 
inches wide ; a cart upon wheels might have gone into the 
mouth of it. The calf was 20 feet long, for unto such vast 
calves the sea-monsters draw forth their breasts. But so 
does the good God here give the people to suck the sea." 
From the earliest period of the history of the town a tract of 
land has been reserved for the use of the inhabitants, and 
known as the Whaling Grounds. It is situated in the north- 
■westerly part of the present town of Dennis, and is still held 
in common by the two towns. • There is no record of the 
laying out of these lands, but by the references made to 
them in various documents, it appears that they were 
undoubtedly laid out by the early proprietors of the town, for 
a look-out for those watching- for whales. In 17 13, the pro^ 



114 OLD YARMOUTH. 

prietors enlarged the reservation by adding about two acfes 
at the west end, doubtless that the whalemen might have a 
convenient place to fill water. Upon this reservation a 
house or houses were erected, in which the whalemen lived, 
and a watch was kept up to notify the crews when the whales 
appeared. The business was successful for many years, and 
fortunes were acquired by the more hardy and enterprising 
whalemen in the town. The boats were sometift".es manned 
with native Indians, who were remarkably well adapted for 
the business. Mr. Jonathan Howes, a grandson of the first 
Thomas, derived sufficient profit in one fortunate season's 
whaling, with a company of these Indians, to pay for a large 
two-story house which he built, and which was standing some 
twenty years ago. This business was pursued for many 
years, and when whales became scarce, larger vessels were 
employed ; until the need of still larger crafts and eligible 
harbors, carried the industry to more favored localities. 

The town, in 1690, voted to sell a lot of land, for the pur- 
pose of raising money to compensate Mr. Wiswald of Dux- 
bury, for his efforts to secure a charter for the colony. Mr, 
W. repaired to England upon the deposition of Sir Edmund 
Andros, in the interest of Plymouth colony, but his efforts 
there were unsuccessful. The town also granted a lot of two 
or three acres of land in Sesuet Neck, for the use of parties 
engaged in the manvifacture of salt. A road was opened "40 
ft. wide, extending from Sawtucket river westward to the 
county road of Barnstable." 

In 1691 the Rev. John Cotton was settled as colleague 
with Mr. Thornton, whose age and infirmities admonished 
him and his peojole that such a step was a wise and necessary 
precaution. 

The next year, 1692, marks the close of the duration of 
the colony of Plymouth, which, after a separate existence of 



PHILIP'S WAR TO THE UNION. 115 

seventy-one years, was merged in the younger but more 
powerful colony of Massschusetts, the two to henceforth be 
known as the Province of Massachusetts Bay. 



CHAPTER XII. 
UNDER THE PROVINCIAL CHARTER. 

First Provincial Representatives — Mr. Thornton's Removal — Schools — "Seating'^ 
Congregations — Deaths — Various Town Meeting votes — Whale Boat Fleets — Mr. 
Cotton's death — Mr. Greenleaf's Settlement— Deaths of Mr. Basset and Mr. Miller 
— Mr. Jaqiiesh the Schoolmaster. 

JOHN Thacher and Jeremiah Howes were chosen, in 
1692, the first Representatives to Boston, under the 
Provincial charter. 

In 1693 Rev. Thomas Thornton closed his ministry here, 
and removed to Boston, and Mr. Cotton became sole pastor. 
The town voted to give him, "for yearly maintenance and 
encouragement to settle among us in the work of the minis- 
try, ;^56." Subsequently, a proffer was made of '" :£6o and 
the new town-house, barn, lands, etc., provided he spend his 
natural life here." The town voted to pay a bounty of 20s. 
in silver, for old wolves' heads ; and for the head and body of 
young wolves, dead or alive, 5s. each, if taken within the town 
borders. This regulation, or one substantially like it, was 
several times subsequently re-enacted. 

Joseph Howes, John Hawes, John Hallet and John Miller 
were appointed a committee "to agree with some fit person 
to teach school." The school was "to be kept in five squad- 
rons, — so runs the record, — the boundaries of which are 
thus defined : " ist, beginning at Jonathan Hallet's, and 
round the said town to Hosea Joyce's, Joseph Ryder's, Samuel 
Hall's and Joseph Maker's, from Sept. to Jan. 3 ; 2d, beginning 
at John Godfrey's and all Nobscusset and Zach. Paddock's, 
from Jan. 4 to April i; 3d, beginning at widow Boardman's to 



UNDER THE PROVINCIAL CHARTER. 117 

Sawquetucket Mill or River, from April 11 to June 19; 
4th, Bass Pond squadron, from Thomas Folland's, Benj, 
Matthevvs's, and all the east side of Bass River, from June 20 
to July 17 ; 5th, South Sea squadron, beginning at Thomas 
Bill's, all the west side of Bass River and South Sea, from 
Thomas Batter's, from July 15 to last of August." 

In 1694, Capt. John Thacher, Lt. Silas Sears, Mr. John 
Miller and Sergt. Joseph Ryder were appointed to "seat the 
men and women and others in the meeting-house." The 
seating of a congregation was an important and a delicate 
matter. Seats were assigned according to rank, social posi- 
tion, wealth and other public considerations, and it was not, 
at all times, an easy task to satisfy the expectations of a so- 
ciety in this respect. 

In 1695, John Taylor was appointed to take care of the 
meeting-house, for one year, for which service he was to 
receive ^\. The next year, John Godfrey was appointed to 
this service, but the appointment was subsequently revoked, 
and it was agreed that "Mr. Cotton's Indian, Saxuant," 
should do it, for which Mr. Cotton was to receive the j^i. 
It was also agreed that "each townsman shall give and haul 
to the minister one load of wood. Mr. Joseph Howes, Sr., 
son of Capt. Thomas, and a grandson of one of the grantees, 
died this year. Also, Mr. Edward Sturgis, one of the first 
comers ; and " Mrs. Mary Prence, relict of Gov. Prence," died 
at the house of her son-in-law, Jeremiah Howes. 

In 1696 died Francis Baker, probably the last of the first 
comers to this town, at the age of 85. Mr. John Hall, the 
progenitor of the family here, died July 23, of this year. 

In 1697 a contribution was taken and sent to Mr. Thornton, 
who had removed to Boston. The court was petitioned to 
license but one ordinary in town. John Thacher, Thomas 
Sturgis, and William Hedge were granted leave to set up a 
windmill on the commons, to use one acre of land, for the 
site, the mill not to be rated. The Quakers' scruples were 



ii8 OLD YARMOUTH. 

recognized, and their right of exemption from the payment 
of the ministerial tax practically conceded, in an indirect 
manner. It was ordered, " that the Quakers be rated for the 
support of the ministry, but that the tax be made so much 
larger, that Mr. Cotton may have his full salary." Major 
Thacher and Zach. Paddock were appointed to join the Se- 
lectmen, to run the line between the town and "the purchas- 
ers" of the town of Harwich. 

In 1698, ;^io additional was voted for Mr. Cotton's salary. 
The town, having been presented for non-maintenance of a 
sufficient pound, provided for erecting one, to be set upon 
the knoll between Jonathan White's and Joseph Taylor's 
lands. A penalty of £,\ was enacted for taking fencing-stuff, 
timber or wood from the town commons, or hay from the 
fiats. Difficulty was experienced in getting the proper per- 
sons to take the office of Representative to the General 
Court. Mr. Thomas Sturgis, Sergeant Rider, Mr. John 
Howes and Mr. Jeremiah Howes, were each chosen and de- 
clined. The meetings were so thinly attended that it was 
found necessary to impose a fine of is. on every legal voter 
absent. 

In 1699, ^ committee was chosen to look out for a school- 
master. A reward was offered for the trapping of wolves. 
Mr. John Wing died. He was the son of John Wing of 
Sandwich, reputed to be the common ancestor of the fami- 
lies of that name on the Cape. 

Feb. 15, 1700, Rev. Thomas Thornton, the beloved former 
minister of this town, died in Boston, aged nearly 91 years. 
Judge Sewell visited him in his last hours on earth, and bore 
witness to the serenity and faith of his closing hours of 
life. Mr. Thornton was of Yorkshire lineage. He was a 
minister of the established church, and of the number of 
those ejected from their livings by the Act of Conformity, 
in 1662, which led to his embarkation to North America. 
He was ripe scholar, and a man of more than ordinary ability 



UNDER THE PROVINCIAL CHARIER. 119 

and force of character. Mr. Jehn Clark was engaged this 
year for school-master, to have, besides his salary, provision 
for keeping his horse, his circuit being so extended as to 
require that facility. 

In 1 701, Mr. John Miller was chosen Representative, to 
have 3s. 6d. per day, and to be allowed two extra days for 
travel, " in consideration of his age and the greatness of the 
journey." Major Thacher, Capt. John Hawes, Mr. Jeremiah 
Howes, Mr. John Miller and Mr. Thomas Folland were ap- 
pointed a committee to make out a list of such persons as are 
rightful proprietors of the commons. 

In 1702, a gratuity of £^6 was granted to Thomas Sturgis 
and others, the owners of the windmill, for repairs, they 
agreeing to grind for a toll of two quarts per bushel, for the 
term of three years. " Mr. Cotton agreed to take ^^40 of the 
product of the whale fishery the past year, "the town to 
have the balance." Dea. Josiah Thacher died. 

In 1703, John Thacher, Jeremiah Howes, Samuel Sturgis^ 
Joseph Hall and Peter Thacher were appointed a committee 
to "seat persons in the meeting-house," a matter which 
seemed frequently to require rectification and re-adjustment. 

In 1704, the town released Thomas Sturgis and others from 
their obligation to maintain a windmill for grinding grain. 

WHALE-BOAT FLEETS. 

The foregoing brief transcripts from the town records, of 
the internal concerns of the community, are connected with 
others, which give evidence of the pendency of hostilities, 
but fail to convey an adequate idea of the hardships and sac- 
rifices incident thereto. During King William's War, which 
raged almost uninterruptedly, from 1699 ^^ '^1^1^ 1^0 l^ss 
than five expeditions were fitted out from the colony to oper- 
ate against the enemy in the Eastern country and iji Canada, 
and in all of these the Cape towns bore a conspicuous part, 
and especially in the whaleboat fleets, which always accom- 



120 OLD YARMOUTH. 

panied these expeditions. These crafts were necessarily 
small, because the enemy's ports were usually located near 
the heads of rivers, beyond the tide-waters, where ordinary 
transports could not approach them. They were manned by 
whalemen, sailors and friendly Indians. Upon the wale of 
each boat, strong pieces of leather were fastened, so that 
whenever they grounded the men could step overboard, slip 
long bars through the leather loops, and take up the boats 
and carry them to deeper water. At night or in stormy 
weather, the boats were taken on shore, turned over and 
used instead of shelter tents. Each boat was fitted with a 
brass kettle and other conveniences for cooking. These 
expeditions were commanded by the famous Capt. Benjamin 
Church, who visited the Cape in the winter of 1703-4, and 
enlisted a large number of men for his fifth expedition. 
Lieutenant Col. John Gorham of Barnstable, usually com- 
manded the whaleboat fleets, and in most of these expeditions 
was second in command, and many officers and men from 
Yarmouth and other Cape towns, were engaged in them. 
Nathaniel Hall of this town, was a captain in one of the first 
of these expeditions, notwithstanding the mutilation he suf- 
fered in Philip's war. Besides the loss of life and limb which 
these expeditions entailed, the colonists were greatly impov- 
erished by the debt and taxation, which are the inevitable 
accompaniments of war, and the issue of bills of credit, from 
time to time resorted to, served to aggravate rather than to 
alleviate the burdens which they were forced to assume. 
These expeditions were prolific of adventure, and in after 
years the old soldiers and sailors who took part in them, 
seated in their roundabout chairs within their capacious 
chimney corners, would relate to the young the story of 
their adventures in the old French wars. 

In 1705, John Clark, the schoolmaster, died. Also Jere- 
miah Jones. 



UNDER THE PROVINCIAL CHARTER, I2l 

From this time forward until 1710, the most important 
matters that are recorded of historical importance, relate to 
the religious concerns of the town. "'The ill health of Mr. 
Cotton made it necessary in 1704 to secure assistance for 
him, and the services of Mr. Gardiner, a Scotch minister, 
then residing in Cushnet, were secured for a time, as well as 
those of Mr. Josias Cotton, and April 26, 1705, the pastor 
was compelled to resign on account of 'weakness of body 
and mind.' He died Feb. 11, 1706, at the age of 45, and 
the funeral charges were paid by the town. Mr. Cotton was 
the grandson of the distinguished John Cotton, of Boston, 
The church seems to have treated Mr. Cotton v/ith great 
consideration and kindness, increasing his salary by ten 
pounds from year to year as there was need, and providing 
for his family during his sickness, at the same time assum- 
ing the entire care of the pulpit." 

" In a few weeks after his decease, March 26, 1706, a call 
was extended to Mr. Barnet to become the pastor, with a 
salary of £,60, which was declined, and in Aug. 20, 1707, an 
offer of £"^0 was made to Mr, David Greenleaf, to labor here 
one year, with the additional engagement to pay the expens- 
es of the removal of his family from Newbury, and to provide 
a dwelling-house. Mr. G. agreed to come, after stipulating 
that the town should pay the charges for transporting his 
family and goods to Boston, in the event of his removing at 
the end of the year. The town, anticipating the original 
provision, extended a call to him to settle in May, 1708, 
offering him ^'80 yearly salary, and in case he became dis- 
abled by age or otherwise, he was to receive jQs^ during his 
natural life in Yarmouth. Mr. Greenleaf presented to the 
town two propositions for their consideration, before return- 
ing his reply. The first was, that in addition to his yearly 
salary, there should be granted to him a house lot with forty 
acres of common lands and five acres of meadow, and ^135 
to build a house, barn and well, which should be his own 



122 OLD YARMOUTH. 

property, the land returning to the town at the close of his 
ministry. The second proposition was, that the town should 
grant him the use of the parsonage lands during his life, and 
;^ 1 60 for a house, which should be kept in repair by the 
town and return to their use at the end of his ministry 
among them. He also required £\Q^ pounds to be given 
him, 50 at his settlement, and 50 more at the end of five 
years. The town accepted the second proposition. This 
was afterwards modified so as to make the amount ^^200, to 
be paid in two installments, o^ £\oo each." These terms are 
very explicitly stated, because they afterwards became the 
subject of controversy and litigation. " Mr. Greenleaf was 
the first young minister the church had ever settled ; and 
they seemed disposed to grant whatever he might desire, so 
far as this world's goods were concerned. The ordination 
took place in the summer of 1708, and a committee was 
appointed ' to see that suitable entertainment be made for 
the ministers and messengers from the churches about to 
assemble for the ordination of Mr. G.' "' At a meeting held 
May 17, 1708, the town being informed that Mr. Greenleaf 
had rather live at the east side of White's Brook than where 
Mr. Cotton formerly lived, whereupon the town gave and 
granted 12 acres of land between Jasper Taylor's field and 
William Matthews's field, for a houselot, and six score 
pounds in current, merchantable pay to build on said land. 
Mr. Greenleaf was the first, and perhaps the only, minister, 
of this parish who resided east of White's Brook. 

Mr. Jeremiah Howes died in 1706. He was a son of the 
first Thomas, and a prominent and influential citizen. He 
was 10 years Deputy, 2 years Representative after the 
Union of the colonies, and 20 years Selectman. He married 
Sarah, daughter of Gov. Thomas Prence, who died March 

3, 1704- 

In 1 710, Jan. 16, Mr. Nathaniel Basset died, aged 82 

« Rev. J. W. Dodge's Historical Discourse. 



UNDER THE PROVINCIAL CHARTER. 123 

years. He was the son of William, who came to Plymouth 
in the Fortune, in 1621, was in that town as late as 1627, 
then of Duxbury, afterwards of Bridgewater, where he died 
m T667. Nathaniel first settled in Marshfield, and came to 
Yarmouth in 1684, residing near the first meeting-house. 
The family was one of distinction in the colony, and his 
descendants are quite numerous in the town. Rev. Mr. 
Greenleaf having informed the town that the Indians 
desired that the citizens should grant them the use of an 
acre of land " on the west side of the way which leads from 
the town to the Swan Pond, near where their old meeting- 
house now standeth, it was granted for that use, and no 
other." The presumption is, that the land was desired for 
some purpose in connection with their meetings. 

June II, 171 1, Mr. John Miller died, aged 79. He was 
the eldest son of the second minister, and married Margaret, 
daughter of Gov. Josias Winslow. He remained in town 
after his father's removal, and was for many years a school- 
master, his house being located nearly on the same site as 
the present school-house on the north side of the town. He 
served one year as Representative, and was ten years Town 
Clerk. His son, Josiah, was a prominent citizen. There are 
no male branches of the family in town at this time, Mr. 
Jaquesh was the same year engaged as Mr. Miller's success- 
or as school-master, " to keep the English school, to teach 
children to read, write and cypher ; also a grammar school 
to teach Latin, provided he may be obtained at the same 
price." The school, in 1707, was directed to be kept the 
first half year in some convenient place between Mr. Jona. 
Hallet's and White's Brook ; the next half at Nobscusset." 
The salary for the schoolmaster in 17 12 was £,24, with 
5 s. per week additional for board. In 171 5 the salary was 
£26, with a like sum for board. 



CHAPTER xirr. 

DIVISION OF THE COMMON LANDS. 

The Committee's Grants — Votes for Dividing the lands — Committees chosen — T'erre> 
ment, Personal and Property Rights — List of tl>e Proprietors and their several pro- 
portions -- Third and Final Division — The Indian and other Reservations- 

THE town had now been settled about seventy years. The 
first comers had been gathered to their fathers, and 
their children and grandchildren were filling their places and 
carrying forward the work for which they had so bravely 
toiled. The original estates of the first-comers had necessa- 
rily been divided and sub-divided, the area of improved lands 
to each proprietor had been considerably restricted, and it 
was found desirable to make a division of the common lands 
among the rightful proprietors. Grants of these lands had 
been made, from time to time, by the committees appointed 
by the court. The first record of these grants was com 
menced in 1672, and the record reads, '* John Thacher was 
appointed to keep this book and enter records therein." The 
committee were, Mr. Edmund Hawes, Thomas Boardman, 
Mr. Thomas Howes, Andrew Hallet, John Thacher. After- 
wards added by the court, in the place of Capt. Howes and 
Andrew Hallet, Jeremiah Howes, John Miller. This com- 
mittee disposed of the lands from time to time to a limited 
extent. In February, 17 10, the town voted to choose a com- 
mittee to draw up for the consideration of the proprietors at 
the next meeting, some plan for a division of the common 
lands ; and Col. Thacher, Mr. John Hallet, Samuel Sturgis, 
Mr. Joseph Hall and Zachariah Paddock, Jr., were chosen 
the committee. In April of the same year, the committee 



DIVISION OF THE COMMON LANDS. 125 

made their report, which was accepted by the town. They 
recommended that the division be made on the followino- 
plan, viz: ist. That one third of the commons shall be 
apportioned to tenements, the owners to be inhabitants of 
the town, or the children or successors of those now inhabi- 
tants who have tenement rights, or of those who were free- 
holders in 1661, and had borne charge in settling the town, 
and that no person should have to exceed two tenement 
rights. 2d. One-third to all male persons 21 years of age 
and over, born in town and now inhabitants, or those not 
born here who have been inhabitants 21 years, and have 
possessed a tenement 21 years. 3d. One-third, according to 
real estate, as each person was rated in 1709. A committee 
was then chosen to report a list of persons in town entitled 
to a portion of the public lands, and the number of shares to 
which each one is entitled, the committee consisting of 
Col. Thacher, Samuel Sturgis, Joseph Hall, John Howes, 
Peter Thacher. The committee reported May 23d, and 
their report was confirmed. The town then chose a commit- 
tee of relief, to hear and report on such as might feel 
aggrieved at the committee's report, the relief committee 
consisting of Samuel Sturgis, Levi Howes, Zachariah Pad- 
dock, Jr., Joseph Hall, and John Howes. The relief committee 
reported the ensuing August, making but few changes from 
the original report. In February, 171 1, the Proprietors of 
the common lands met, and agreed that one-third of the 
undivided lands be laid out to the individual proprietors, 
according to their interests therein, for planting lots, and 
one-third more for wood lots, and Col. John Thacher, Mr. 
John Hallet, Mr. Elisha Hall, and Mr. Joseph Hall were 
appointed a committee for that purpose. The committee 
were also authorized to lay out such highways and private 
ways in those undivided lots as they deemed proper. " The 
whole number of shares is 3135." [afterwards altered to 31 18.] 
The Proprietors' clerk was directed to make out a list of 



126 OLD YARMOUTH. 

Proprietors from the town book and record them, and a h'st 
is given below. By a general average, 9 shares were assigned 
to each tenement right, and 7 1-2 to each personal right. No 
person was to have more than two of the former, and there 
were only four persons in town found to be entitled to more 
than one, viz : Col. John Thacher, Joseph Hall, Jonathan 
White and Ebenezer Howes. All the residue over the tene- 
ment and personal rights was on account of proportionate 
ownership in the taxable real estate in town. 

The division was made by lot, and the drawings were com- 
pleted and choice made during the summer of 171 2. A large 
portion of these lots have remained in the families of the 
first owners down to the present time 





Shares. 


Col, John Thacher, 


51 1-2 


Capt. Sam'l Howes, 


32 


Lieutenant Jonathan Howes, 


32 


Jonathan Hallet, 


70 


John Hallet, 


59 


Ebenezer Hallet, 


7 1-2 


Andrew Hallet, 


7 1-2 


John Hallet, Jr., 


7 1-2 


Isaac Hawes, 


24 1-2 


Joseph Hawes, 


28 


Peter Thacher, 


25 1-2 


Mr. John Miller, 


27 


Josiah Miller, 


7 1-2 


John Miller, Jur., 


7 1-2 


Henry Vinsent, 


21 


Samll Vinsent, 


21 


John Vinsent, 


17 1-2 


Phillip Vinsent, 


12 1-2 


John Taylor, Senr., 


23 


Samll Taylor, Senr,, 


7 1-2 


John Taylor, Jun'r, John's Son, 


7 1-2 


Joseph Gorham, 


25 1-2 


Joseph Gorham, Jun'r, 


7 1-2 


Isaac Gorham, 


7 1-2 


Zebulon Tharp, 


22 


Mr. Elisha Hedge, 


36 


William Hedge, 


29 1-2 



DIVISION OF THE COMMON LANDS. 127 



John Hedge, 21 1-2 

The tenement of Elisha Hedge, Jr., 

deceased, 
-Jonathan Whelden, 

Joseph Sturges, 

John Rider, Senr, 

Ebenezer Rider, 

Nathaniel Basset, 

Joseph Basset, 

Samll Sturges, 

Joseph Webber, 

Jaspar Taylor, 

Seth Taylor, 

James Sturges, 

Jonathan White, 

John Mathews, 

Benjamin Mathews, 

William Mathews, 

Joseph Rider, Senr., 

Joseph Rider, Jur., 

Thomas Bray, 

Hozeah Joyce, 

John Joyce, 

Samll Joyce, 

Thorn. Joyce, 

John Hall, Jur., 

Elisha Taylor, 

Richard Taylor, 

Jonathan Smith, Senr, 

Jonathan Smith, Jur,, 

Isaac Taylor, 

Jesher Taylor, 

Elisha Smith, 

Thorn. Toby, 

John Howes, 

Amos Howes, 

Nathaniel Howes, 

Thomas Howes, 

Prince Howes, 

Ebenezer Howes, 

To the tenement of Jeremiah Howes, de- 
Ceased, and widow's estate, 2o 



15 


1-2 


26 


1-2 


23 


1-2 


:2i 




'23 




Si 


t-2 


7 


1-2 


26 


1-2 


10 


1-4 


22 


1-2 


2\ 


1-2 


21 


1-2 


30 


1-2 


20 


1-2 


28 




25 


1-2 


80 


1-2 


23 


1-2 


21 


1-2 


28 


1-2 


22 


1-2 


7 


1-2 


7 


1-2 


21 




25 


1-2 


30 


1-2 


23 




7 


1-2 


7 


1-2 


7 


1-2 


7 


1-2 


20 


1-2 


28 




25 




25 




34 


1-2 


36 




47 


1-2 



.128 OLD YARMOUTH. 

To the tenement of Sam'l Eldredge, de- 
ceased, 
Johosaphat Eldredge, 
Ezekiel Eldredge, 
Joseph Howes, 
Elisha Hall, Sr., 
Ebenezer Hall, 
Elisha Hall, Jr., 
John Cro, Sr., 
John Cro, Nobscusset, 
Joseph Cro, 
Paul Cro, 
Jeremiah Cro, 
Jabez Cro, 
Thomas Cro, Sr., 
Isaac Cro, 

John Cro, Bass Pond, 
Thomas Cro, Bass Pond, 
John Hall, Sr., 
Joseph Hall, 
Nathaniel Hall, 
John Paddock, 
Zachariah Paddock, Senr., 
Judah Paddock, 
Zachariah Paddock, Jur., 
Ichabod Paddock, 
Andrew Stephens, 
John Burg, 
Samuel Burg, 
Jacob Burg, 
-Thom Burg, 
Joseph Burg, 
Joseph Crosby, 
Isaac Chapman, 
^"^ Paul Sears, 
John Sears, 
Joseph Sears, 
Josiah Sears, 
Silas Sears, 
Thomas Folland, 
William Baker, 
Benjamin O'Kelley, 



19 


1-2 


21 


1-2 


7 


1-2 


30 


1-2 


29 


1-2 


21 


1-2 


7 


1-2 


23 




29 


1-2 


7 


1-2 


7 


1-2 


27 




7 


1-2 


25 


1-2 


7 


1-2 


21 


1-2 


21 


1-2 


7 


1-2 


52 




7 


12 


32 




23 




20 




56 


1-2 


7 


1-2 


II 


1-2 


21 


1-2 


23 




21 




23 




23 

26 


1-2 


22 




29 


1-2 


29 
26 




25 


1-2 


25 




24 
18 




20 





DIVISION OF THE COMMON LANDS. 129 



Daniel Baker, 




20 


Samuel Baker, Jur., 




7 1-2 


John Baker, Senr., 




20 


Samuel Baker, Senr,, 




20 


Nathaniel Baker, 




20 


Thorn. Baker, 




10 


Jeremiah Kelley, 




20 


John Chase, 




22 


Isaac Chase, 




18 1-2 


William Chase, 




7 1-2 


John Gage, 




23 1-2 


Joseph Studley, 




12 1-2 


Zachariah Rider, 




22 1-2 


John Rider, Jun, 




20 


John Nickerson, 




20 1-2 


John Berry, 




18 1-2 


Thomas Baxter, Senr., 




32 1-2 


John Baxter, 




26 1-2 


Thomas Baxter, Jur., 




7 1-2 


Shubael Baxter, 




7 1-2 


Jabez Lewes, 




21 


Jonathan Lewes, 




13 


Jacob Taylor, 




13 


John Gorham, 




12 1-2 


Benjamin Parker, 




15 1-2 


Abisha Marchant, 




18 


Samuel Marchant, 




18 


Ebenezer Marchant, 




7 1-2 


"Thomas Whelden, 




19 


Thomas Hatheway, 




7 1-2 


Thomas Hedge, 




7 1-2 


John Jones, 




7 1-2 


To the Tenement that was William Gray's, 


9 


To the land that was Ebenezer 


Crosby's, 


7 


Samuel Cro, 




7 1-2 


Josiah Smith, 




7 1-2 


Judah Hall, 




7 1-2 


Gideon Gray, 




7 1-2 


Ebenezer Taylor, son to Richard Taylor, 


7 1-2 


To the male heirs to the house 


of Josiah 




Thacher, 




9 


Nathan Basset, 




7 1-2 



13 




24 


1-2 


7 


1-2 


7 


1-2 


7 


1-2 



'30 OLD YARMOUTH. 

Mr. Greenleaf, 

Edward Sturges, 

Abraham Hedge, 

Jonathan Baker, 

Thomas Chase, 

To the tenement that Shubael Baxter lives in, 9 

The tenement that was Edward Gray's, 9 

Jeremiah Chase, 7 1-2 

Ye tenement for Isaac Chase to his father, 9 

And to the Ministry of this town, 35 1-2 

To be laid out at the west part of the town. 
And one lot more of 25 1-2 

to be laid out at the east part of the town, 

to be governed annually by the selectmen of 

this town, to prevent stray and waste. 

Attest, Samuel Sturges, 

Proprietors' Clerk. 

The third and final division of the common lands was 
made in 171 3-14. Before proceeding to make the division, it 
was voted, at a Proprietors' meeting, held July i, 1713, "that 
a piece of land and beach lying near Coy's Pond, about two 
acres, shall lie undivided for the benefit of the whalemen of 
the town of Yarmouth forever." It was also voted that "the 
committee chosen to lay out the third of the undivided lands 
shall have power to lay out a certain tract, as much as they 
shall see fit and convenient for the native Indians of the 
town to live upon, they agreeing with the Indians where to 
lay out such land, with least damage to the proprietary and 
most convenience for their use, which land is to lie for their 
use forever, to live upon, and for planting and firewood. And 
the Indians shall not have any power to sell or dispose of 
said lands or timber, wood or fencing stuff that grows thereon, 
or receive any other town's Indians or any other persons 
whatsoever, either English or Indians." 

It was agreed that the last third part of the commons and 
all the cedar swamps, marsh and meadow, shall be laid into 
lots, "in bigness equally according to value for quantity and 



DIVISION OF THE COMMON LANDS. 131 

quality ; leaving and allowing all convenient ways as they 
shall think needful, and what land they shall set out for the 
Indians to live upon, what the committee shall think fit to lie 
for trainings, to erect meeting-houses and dig clay upon," 
etc. The Proprietors made choice of Dea. Joseph Hall, Mr. 
Peter Thacher, and Mr. Josiah Miller for the committee to 
lay out the aforesaid last third part of the common lands. 
March 2, 1715, it wag voted "that the Indian lands shall be 
governed by the Selectmen ; and that neither the English 
nor the Indians shall be permitted to bark or chip trees to 
draw turpentine, and any person so offending shall pay los. 
for any such tree so chipped and barked, to be recovered in 
any court competent to try the same." The division was 
was made by lot July 14, 171 5, to the same Proprietors or 
their successors as the second division. This division 
absorbed the great bulk of the common lands, except a few 
spots reserved for exceptional purposes, as already indicated. 

The particular locality reserved for the use and occupa- 
tion of the Indians is particularly described in the Proprietors' 
records, and is in the following words : 

"A piece of land laid out in Yarmouth for our Indians to 
live upon, belonging to this town, beginneth at the Bass 
River at the West end of Joseph Eldredge's land, leaving an 
open way from said river two rods wide, between said land 
and said Eldredge's field to the way, and so over the way to 
a small oak tree marked, thence from said oak tree sets N. 
N. W. as trees are marked, 180 rods to the E. end of the 
Long Pond, thence sets by said pond on the S. side 136 rods 
to a maple tree marked, thence sets S. S. E. as trees are 
marked about 212 rods to the bank of the river to a pine 
tree marked, thence it sets Easterly by said river to the first 
mentioned way between said Eldridge's land and said piece 
of land laid out to said Indians, only reserving a way along 
said river below the bank upon the flats, for the convenience 
of the inhabitants of said town, wholly open. Also reserving 



132 OLD YARMOUTH. 

the way wholly open that leads from Abisha Merchant's to 
Nathaniel Baker's." Those familiar with old landmarks in 
that portion of the township included in the present " Friends' 
village," in South Yarmouth, will be able to measurably 
define the limits of this reservation. 



FROM THE OLD FRENCH WARS TO THE 
REVOLUTION. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

Proposed Legislation about Wolves — Death of Col. John Thacher — Romance of his Life 
— The Thacher Cradle — Enlargement of the Meeting House — Provincial Loan — 
A Marvellous Occurrence — Difficulties with Mr. Greenleaf — Eastern Emigration — 
Division of "Crocket" Neck — Expedition to Louisburg — Hard Times and the 
French Wars — Rev. Messrs. Smith and Rawson — Church Enlargement — Mr. 
Green's Settlement and Death — Rev. Timothy Alden's Settlement. 

FOR many years after the settlement of the town wild 
animals continued to be troublesome and destructive. 
In 1712, it was voted "to pay a sum which shall makeup the 
amount to ^^5, for killing a wolf in this county." The exter- 
mination of wolves was one of the stable subjects of legisla- 
tion and action in the town meetings. A few years later, at 
the instance of the people of Sandwich, the General Court 
was petitioned to construct a fence across the Cape, from 
Picket Cliff to Wayquanset Bay, 6 feet high, to keep out the 
wolves. The several towns in the County were conferred 
with, Sandwich offering to pay whatever over ;!^500 the 
fence should cost. Falmouth agreed to the plan, but the 
lower towns declined to pay their share of the cost, and the 
towns above naturally objected to having all the wolves on 
their side of the line. The project was therefore abandoned. 
May 8, 171 3, the town sustained a severe loss in the death 
of Col. John Thacher, at the age of 75 years. He was the 
eldest son of Anthony, and born in Marblehead, marrying for 



134 OLD YARMOUTH. 

his first wife, Rebecca Winslow of Marshfield, for his second 
Lydia, daughter of Col. John Gorham of Barnstable. He 
was early in life an influential man in the coloay, commencing 
as a Lieutenant in the militia, was for twenty years a Select- 
man, Deputy and Representative to the colonial courts eleven 
years, a member of the Council of War in 1681 and some 
time thereafter, and a member of the Provincial Council soon 
after the union of the colonies, for about twenty years, holding 
that position at the time of his death. He was buried under 
arms, and his grave-stone was the first with an inscription 
put up in Yarmouth, it being brought here from England. 
The many who died previous to this time, lie unrecognized and 
unknown. The grave ot his father was unmarked by a 
monument, and the precise spot of his interment cannot be 
pointed out. Others who were his contemporaries, have 
their last resting-places marked by rude characters, or 
crumbling monuments, fast fading before time's effacing 
finger. 

"Their names, their years, spelt by the unlettered muse, 
The place of fame and elegy supply." 

The history of the life of Col. Thacher is enlivened by one 
of the few romantic episodes which the period has furnished. 
On his first wedding trip, when bringing his bride, Rebecca, 
from Marshfield, the couple made a call at the house of Capt. 
Gorham of Barnstable. An infant girl was brought into the 
room, that was born on the night of their marriage, and Col. 
Thacher playfully remarked, handing the infant to his bride, 
"Let me introduce you to my second wife." Mrs. Thacher 
took the child and kissed it, saying that she "hoped it 
would be a good many years hence." Some twenty-two years 
afterwards, Rebecca Thacher died, and "many lamentable 
verses" the Colonel wrote on the sad event. But his grief 
was soon consumed by its own intensity, and he began to feel 
the need of female consolation. Passing the house of the 
widow Gorham, soon after, he saw the horse of his son 
hitched at the door. Mistrusting ihe object of his son's visit. 



FRENCH WARS TO THE REVOLUTION. 135 

Col. Thacher, on the morrow, privately consulted him on the 
subject, and asked him if he had matrimonial designs upon 
Miss Lydia. The young man frankly admitted that he had. 
"Now, if you will give up your visits, I will give you £,^, 
old tenor, in money, and my yoke of black oxen." The young 
man consented, and the Colonel pressed his own suit with 
such ardor, that in less than six months after the death of his 
first wife, his grief was assuaged by marrying Lydia Gorham. 
Col. Thacher's descendants still preserve a cradle made by 
his father or himself, more than two centuries ago, and a 
blanket, brought, as before stated, from England, by Anthony 
Thacher, in which was wrapped his youngest child, that was 
drowned in the great shipwreck at Thacher's Island, when 
its parents were so remarkably preserved, and in which sev- 
eral generations of Thachers were baptized. The blanket is 
of embroidered scarlet broadcloth. The cradle was made ot 
rifted oak, in most ingenious style, and must have been in 
great request, Col. Thacher being the father, by his two mar- 
riages, of twenty-one children, and some of his descendants 
having been almost equally blessed with progeny. 




THE THACHER CRADLE. 



The rapid increase of population of the town rendered 
enlarged church accommodations an imperative necessity. 



136 OLD YARMOUTH. 

Accordingly on Feb, 21, 1716, the question, "whether the 
town should have two meeting-houses or one, and if but one, 
where it shall be set," was referred by the town to a com- 
mittee, consisting of Capt. Thompson of Middleboro, Ensign 
John Bacon of Barnstable, and Mr. Chillingworth Foster of 
Harwich, their decision to be final. It was decided to build 
but one house, and it was to be located near the old edifice. 
At the end of ten years the eastern section of the town was 
to be at liberty to withdraw and become a distinct precinct, 
and to receive assistance in building a meeting-house for 
themselves. ^400 were assessed on the town for the build- 
ing of the new house, and Justice Sturgis, Dea. Jos. Hall, 
Lieut Shubael Baxter, Mr. John Howes and Mr. Josiah 
Miller, were appointed a building committee, who were to 
determme the dimensions and contract with the workmen. 
The Quakers were exempted at this time from assessment 
for the building of the church, and the support of the minis- 
ter. Those who desired pews were to build them at their 
charge, under the direction of the building committee. A 
vote was taken to place or seat the people in the new meet- 
ing-house "as they (the committee,) or the major part of 
them shall see cause, all circumstances of persons being by 
them considered." The old building was given to the widow 
Sturgis, in consideration of the loss of her house by fire, the 
material of the pews only being reserved.^ 

In 1716 stocks were ordered "to be set in the most con- 
venient place for public uses." The representative to the 
Provincial Legislature was "allowed i8d. per day, above the 
law, and three days to go, and two to return." One of the 
perils of the whale fishery is disclosed by the record of 
deaths of this year. Mr. Jonathan Howes was killed by a 
whale which he attacked in a boat. 

In 1 719, the town having been presented for having no 
schoolmaster, Mr. Peter Thacher was appointed agent, to 
answer for the town at the next court. 

iSee page 25. 



FRENCH WARS TO THE REVOLUTION. 137 

In 1721 the East Precinct of the town was consti'uted, 
the provision made in 17 16 being anticipated by five years- 
The town voted, that a committee be appointed to devise 
5ome plan for disposing of its part of the ;^5 0,000 issued by 
the Province and loaned to the towns. The committee was, 
Ensign Hall, Mr. John Hedge, Mr. Josiah Miller, Mr. John 
Howes, Mr. Judah Paddock, Mr, Peter Thacher. At a meet- 
ing of the Proprietors of the common lands, 9th Feb., "to 
see about Weir River," voted, "Joseph Rider 1-2, Thomas 
Bray, 1-4, and Benj. and William Matthews 1-4, so long as 
they shall maintain a grist mill on the stream ; when they 
shall cease, it shall revert to the town." The above figures 
it is inferred, represent each party's interest in the mill. 

Feb. 28, 1722, the first meeting for the organization of the 
East Parish was held. The future progress of the parish will 
be found in its appropriate place, in the annals of Dennis. 

In 1726 occurred an event which was considered by our 
ancestors as a miraculous deliverance from death, and which 
was set forth as follows, in the quaint language of the day, 
the publication being in the Boston News Letter, of August 
25th of that year: 

Yarinouth on Cape Cod, Aug. 8, 1726. 

A -^ awful and furprizing Providence that befel one Ebene- 
J~\ zer Taylor, who was on Saturday the 6th Instant buried 
12 Foot under Stones and Earth in his Well. 

Apprehending it may be of Service, I shall give the Pub- 
lic the following Narrative. 

The said Taylor getting a Man to go down his Well to 
clear it, the Man in going down about mid way of the Well, 
which was about 40 Foot deep, observed a Breach in the 
Wall, and being apprehensive of Danger, would not proceed. 
Whereupon faid Taylor went down to view the Breach, and 
saw it as he thought hazardous, fome Stones hanging loose 
over the Breach: He taking hold of one of them, and stirring 
it a little, the whole Body moved, and pressing down upon his 
Leg, and there stayed, till with abundance of Difficu'ty in 



138 OLD YARMOUTH. 

wringing and twisting, even to the disjointing of his Hip, he- 
got it loose; and hanging by the Well-Rope, the whole body 
of Stones and Earth passed down by him, without hurting 
him, only racing the Skin of his Hands and Face, till it filled 
the Well 1 1 Foot from the Bottom. And then, as Provi- 
dence ordered it, the Stones just over his Head, being some- 
what Large, and pressing faster and in a Body, met together, 
bound each other, and made a sort of an Arch, which stopt 
any more from passing by him. And so from thence it filled 
twelve Foot above him, there being about ten Foot vacant 
Space where he was. Here he continued at least ten Hours, 
hanging by his Hands on the Well-Rope, and having one 
Foot on the Stones of the Wall, and being forced also with 
a bite of the Rope to ease up his other lame Leg. And tho' 
in great Misery by having his flesh torn, his Hip disjointed 
and holding up so long; yet his thoughts were free, and his 
Senses quick about him for his own Preservation. For tho' 
to all appearance in almost as doleful a case as yo7iaJi, yet he 
had from the first some small hopes: and tho' as in the Belly 
of Hell, yet he cried unto the Lord, when none else could 
hear his Voice, or think him to be alive. 

It was some Hours before Help could be obtained, and 
Preparations made for Diging, and near Night on the last 
Day of the Week, before they could accomplish to do any 
thing considerable: upon which accounts fome were for leav- 
ing the Work till Monday, not imagining that life could be 
in him, and proposing rather Diging for a dead Corps to bury 
him (it) again, than for a living man : But others had such a 
strong Impulse on their Spirits, that they must proceed. 
Sometimes, some would strain upon the Rope, which was his 
main Stay, and as he feared, would get it from him. And 
once he perceived the Rope, which was his Sheet-Anchor, to 
come home, being loosened, so that he was afraid to bear 
upon it; And though he called with all the Life and Vigour 
he had to fasten it, yet no Man heard him : But it pleased 
God to direct some one to fasten it again; thinking it might 
possibly be of some Service to those that were diging. And 
when they got within three or four Foot of him they heard 
him, and found that he was not only alive, but also capable 
of advising with them about the best Methods of removing 
the Stones over his Head with safety. With Care and Indus- 
try they soon obtained his deliverance; and his disjointed 



FRENCH WARS TO THE REVOLUTION. 139 

^ones being well reduced, he is like to do well. Oh that 
Men would praise the Lord for his Goodness, and for his won- 
derful Works to the Children of Men! 

This event, which produced a profound sensation through- 
out the settlements along these borders of the sea, was 
celebrated some little time after its occurrence, by a solemn 
religious observance at Mr. Taylor's house; his wife, children 
and friends being present, and a sermon was preached by 
George Weeks, a missionary who labored among the Indians, 
in which the various parties were each, in turn, addressed 
after the manner of funeral discourses, and the lessons of 
the event properly set forth as they seemed applicable to the 
individual cases. "In the mother country," says a writer 
of the time, "the story was disbelieved, and was added to the 
score of New England tales. 

In 1726, Rev. Daniel Greenleaf was dismissed from the 
pastorate of the West Parish, and removed to Boston. At 
the time of his removal there was a controversy pending 
between him and the town in relation to his salary, which 
found its way into the courts, and was not settled until the 
next year. It was finally referred to an ecclesiastical council, 
whose recommendation was adopted, and their award paid by 
the parish. During his pastorate, Mr. G. united to the duties 
of his profession, that of physician and apothecary. His dis- 
missal was the result of the opposition of an influential par- 
ishioner. May 26, Mr. Zachariah Paddock died, aged 91, 
He was the first of the name in town. He was the son of 
Robert, of Plymouth, and married Deborah, the daughter of 
Mr. Richard Sears. Ichabod, who taught the people of Nan- 
tucket the art of killing whales from boats, was his son. 

In 1728, the Province issued another loan of ;^6o,ooo, on 
condition that it should be repaid in equal installments of 
;!(^i 2,000 each, in five years. The town voted to take its 
proportion of the loan, and chose Capt. Shubael Baxter, Mr. 
Josiah Miller and Mr. John Sears a ccmmittee, who were 



I40 OLD YARMOUTH. 

empowered to let out the money under proper restrictions. 
This loan-fund became a source of much trouble, subsequent- 
ly ; suits being necessary for the recovery of both principal 
and interest. 

In 1729, Rev. Thomas Smith was installed pastor of the 
West Parish. The salary offered was ;^ioo a year, with a 
settlement of ;^200, to be paid in two instalments before the 
close of the first year. Seven churches were invited to join, 
in the ordination, but only five were represented. Rev. 
Josiah Dennis offered the introductory prayer; Rev. Nathan- 
iel Stone, of Harwich, preached the sermon; Rev. Jonathan 
Russell, of Barnstable, gave the charge; and Rev. Mr. Webb, 
of Eastham, the right hand of fellowship. Mr. Josiah Miller 
died April 15; Mr. John Miller July 4. 

About this period commenced a movement from this vicin- 
ity to seek new homes, by such of our population as found 
themselves cramped in the development of their industrial 
energies — a movement, the same in purpose, though differ- 
ent in direction, as that which subsequently peopled so many 
of the communities from the Atlantic seaboard to the coast 
of the Pacific ocean. In 1727, after many delays and dis- 
couragements, the Legislature of Massachusetts performed 
the tardy act of justice granting to the officers and soldiers, 
or their legal representatives, who served in the arduous- 
Narragansett expedition during King Philip's War, a town- 
ship equal to six miles square in the Province of Maine, to- 
each 120 persons whose claims should be established within 
four months from the passage of the act. It was found that 
the whole number amounted to 840. Seven townships were 
granted, called Narragansett No. i, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. The lat- 
ter was assigned to the company of Capt. John Gorham and 
a Sqw others, which was afterwards incorporated as the town 
of "Gorham,^' by which name it is now known. The gran- 
tees commenced their settlement in the year 1736. They 
were from the towns of Yarmouth, Barnstable, Eastham, and 



FRENCH WARS TO THE REVOLUTION. 141 

a few from Sandwich. They suffered many of the hardships 
of frontier life, which their ancestors had endured so much 
to overcome, but which, on that account, they were the bet- 
ter prepared to encounter. The names of the grantees from 
this town were as follows, though what proportion of them 
settled there we have no means of ascertaining : 

From YarvioiitiL — Samuel Baker, William Chase, John 
Thacher, John Hallet, John Matthews, Thomas Thornton, 
Edward Gray, Samuel Hall, Jona. Smith, Sam'l Jones, John 
Taylor, Thomas Fulton, John Gage, William Fellows, Wil- 
liam Gage, Ananias Wing, John Pugsley, Daniel Baker, Rd. 
Taylor, Wm. Gray, Capt. John Gorham, Thomas Baxter, 
James Maker, James Claghorn, Joseph Hall, Nath'l Hall, 
Laramy Hedge, Joseph Wiidens, Sam'l Thomas, John Crow- 
ell, John Chase, Henry Golds, Rd. Lake, Jabez Gorham, 
Henry Gage, Everton Crowell, Jona. White. [In 1741, Wm. 
Gray is put down for his father's, Edward Gray's, heirs ; 
Sam'l Baker, for his father, Samuel ; and Shubael Gorham, 
for his father, John.] 

In 1736 died Judge Peter Thacher, aged 71. He was son 
of Col. John, and grandson of Anthony. Early a Representa- 
tive, he was also a Justice of the Peace, in 17 13, Justice of 
the Court of Common Pleas, in 1720, and Chief Justice in 
1728. He was some years of the Council, and Overseer of 
the Indians, from 1729. Mr. John Howes also died this 
year. 

1737, the application of the towns in the lower part of the 
Cape for a law requiring the courts to be held a portion of 
the time in Eastham, was opposed by this town. 

Jan. 21, 1739, at a meeting of the Proprietors of the com- 
mon lands in Crocket Neck,' it was voted to divide the same 
into thirty lots, and John Gage and John Nickerson were 

'The name of this neck is vaiiously spelled, " Crocket," " Crocker," "Crooked" and 
" Crockey," 



142 OLD YARMOUTH. 

appointed a committee to make the division. The following 
were the names of the proprietors, viz : 

1. Samuel Baker. 

2. Samuel Baker, Jr. 

3. William Chase and Joseph Hamblin. 

— -4. Jona. Whelden, Thomas Hedge, Amos Howes. 
— 5. Elisha Taylor. 

6. John Burges. 

7. Samuel and Thomas Joyce. 

8. Joseph Howes. 

9. Daniel Greenleaf. 

10. John Nickerson, Senior. 

1 1. Prince Howes. 

12. William Chase. 

13. Samuel Burge and Thomas Thacher. 

14. Israel Nickerson. 

15. Thomas Chase. 

16. John Burgis, Jona. Whilden, Eliph. Smith. 

17. Wm. Chase. 

18. Samuel Jr., Nath'l and David Baker, and John Gage. 

19. John Hedge. 

20. Amos O'Killey. 

2 1. Heirs of John Joyce, ^ 

22. William Chase. 

23. Eben Hall. 

24. Judah and Samuel Baker. 

25. Abner Howes and Partners. 

26. Richard Chase. 

27. John Nickerson. 

28. John Gage. 

29. Joseph Sears. 

30. John Nickerson. 

In 1745. The right to use Weir River for a grist mill was 
granted by the Proprietors to Joseph Ryder, Joseph Ham.. 
blin and Thomas Bray. Mr. John Berry died, aged 91. He 
was son of Richard, and in Philip's War. 

In 1747, the Proprietors granted leave to Thomas Howes, 
Lot Hall and Samuel Eldridge to build a windmill on a piece 
of land in the East Parish, near the school House. 



FRENCH WARS TO THE REVOLUTION. 143 

CAPTURE OF LOUISBURG. 

The French and Indian war, which commenced in 1744, 
was the occasion of much suffering and hardship to our peo- 
ple. The towns were also called upon from time to time to 
furnish men and money for the army. This town and county 
bore an important part in the reduction of Louisburg, in 
1745, This was a place of great importance, situated upon 
the southern shore of Cape Breton, fortified by the French 
at great expense and labor, and was of such immense strength 
as to be called the Dunkirk or Gibraltar of America. It had 
for a long time been the hiding-place for French privateers, 
that preyed upon our shipping, and its reduction was regard- 
ed as of vast importance to the commercial interests of New 
England. When the plan for the reduction of this strong- 
hold became known, a deep interest was manifested in its 
execution. The fire of patriotic ardor was kindled in every 
community, and nowhere did it burn with a steadier flame 
than in this town. A company of forty men, thirteen of 
whom were Indians, was enlisted here, upon the condition 
that their townsman, Mr. Joseph Thacher, should be their 
captain. The company was attached to the Seventh Mass. 
regiment, made up, in part, of companies from Barnstable 
County, of which Shubael Gorham of Barnstable was Colonel, 
and his kinsman, John Gorham, was Lieut. Colonel. Capt. 
Joseph Thacher was also commissioned as Major. The 
expedition, consisting of about 4000 men, under the command 
of Gen. Wm. Pepperell, was described as consisting of 
"principally substantial persons, and men of beneficial occu- 
pations." The names of a few of our tovvn's company, which 
have been preserved, were, Daniel Taylor, David Matthews, 
Ebenezer Berry, Jonathan O'Killey, Reuben Gage, Judah 
Ellis, Nathan Basset. One of Major Thacher's Indians was 
the first of the provincials who entered the grand battery of 
Louisburg, being hired to do it, by Col. Vaughan for a bottle 
of brandy. He crawled in at an embrasure and opened the 



144 OLD YARMOUTH. 

gate, which Vaughan immediately entered, the enemy having 
withdrawn from this battery, though at the time this circum- 
stance was unknown. It is remarkable that, of the Indians 
from this town, only three lived to return, two having been 
killed by the enemy, and eight, probably in consequence of a 
mode of living to which they were unaccustomed, dying of 
disease ; and that the rest of the company, though exposed 
to great hardships, were all spared to see their native place 
again, and to participate with their fellow countrymen in the 
joy which pervaded the land, on the reduction of the strong- 
est fortress in America." In Niles's Wonder Working Prov- 
idence, 1745, appear the names of the leading officers who 
were at the reduction of Louisburg. Major Thacher is thus 
referred to : 

" May Major Thacher live, in rising fams, 
Worthy of ancestors that bear his nam 2, 
And copy after virtuous relations, 
Who so well filled their civil, sacred military stations." 

But the glories of victory were not unmingled with disas- 
ter to business concerns. The troubles of the times were 
greatly aggravated by the issue of bills of credit, to which 
the colonial authorities had resorted, to meet the exigencies 
of the wars in which they had unhappily been engaged. The 
effect, as histroy has ever recorded, is to increase the scarci- 
ty of coin and enhance the value of commodities which enter 
into the consumption of the people. The various issues, 
under the different denominations of old tenor, middle tenor, 
and new tenor, had each " slid down the lapse of deprecia- 
tion." At first they were but little below par; and in 1702 
an oz. of silver was equal to 6s. lod. By steady gradations 
the process of depreciation went on, until 1749, when an oz. 
of silver represented £ji of paper. The year previous, the 
General Court provided for drawing into the treasury all the 
outstanding bills of credit and determining the rates of 

• Alden's American Epitaphs. 



FRENCH WARS TO THE REVOLUTION. 145 

coined silver. Tlie bills were to be redeemed at the rate of 
£,2 5s. old tenor, lis. 3d. middle and new tenor, by one 
piece of % — , that is, a Spanish dollar. The funds to redeem 
the bills were the money voted by Parliament to reimburse 
the expenses incurred by the Province in the reduction of 
Cape Breton, ;^ 183,694, and a provincial tax of ;^75,ooo. 

In 1748, by the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, peace was 
declared, to the great joy of the colony, though its continu- 
ance was of short duration. The duties of Constable were so 
distasteful, that it was found exceedingly difficult to find a 
suitable person in town who would consent to serve. 

In 1750, a committee " to enforce the deer act" was 
appointed; and another committee, "to guard against 
trespass on Nobscusset Beach." 

In 175 1, the inhabitants of the South Side petitioned for a 
public road to be laid out. We find also, this year, evidence 
of the completed meeting-house in the West Parish. It had 
been gradually assuming new and comfortable features for 
several years. In 1731 it was lathed and plastered, and 
furnished with outside doors. It was glazed in 1740, and 
further repai'-ed in 1749 and 175 i, when it was embellished 
with a belfry, which served for some years as a landmark at 
sea. 

In 1752, in the absence of more important matters of rec- 
ord, we note that Samuel Burgess and Josiah Smith were 
appointed "to keep the young people in order on the Sab- 
bath day." 

The hardships of the times, occasioned by the war, may be 
inferred from the fact that this year, John Hallet, in behalf of 
the town of Yarmouth, represented to the court, " that by 
reason of the interruption and failure of their whale-fisheries, 
the inhabitants were much impoverished," for which cause 
they wished to be excused from sending a representative to 
the General Court. To the impoverishment of the people 



146 OLD YARMOUTH. 

was added laxity of religion and morals, if the testimony of 
contemporary writers is to be credited. 

Nov. 6, 1752, a request, signed by Joseph Thacher, Nath. 
aniel Howes, Edward Sturgis, Peter Thacher, Jeremiah 
Joyce, Samuel Matthews, Joseph Ryder, James Taylor, John 
Matthews, was addressed to Judah Thacher, clerk of the pro- 
prietors of Yarmouth, to call a meeting of the proprietors, 
'•'to see if Joseph Ryder and others shall have liberty to 
erect a grist-mill at a place called the weir." 

In 1754, Rev. Thomas Smith was dismissed, at his own 
request, for want of adequate support. He was' succeeded, 
the next year, by Rev. Grindall Rawson. 

The French war, which was raging at that time, impover- 
ished the people of the Cape, and withdrew many of their 
men from more profitable employment. VVe find that in 
1756, Yarmouth men, under Capt. Joseph Thacher, were at 
Fort William Henry; that in 1758, men from this town were 
with Capt. Samuel Knowles, in Col. T. Doty's regiment, 
and 25 men in Capt. Josiah Thacher's company, same regi- 
ment, and in 1759-60, with Capt. Sylvanus Bourne, at Hali- 
fax. 

In 1757, the town ordered "the sale to the highest bidder 
of the lot where the Indian meeting-house stood." Mr, 
Thomas Tobey died. He was the son of Thomas Tobey of 
Sandwich, and settled in the part of the town now Dennis. 

In 1759, Benj. Matthews of Yarmouth, who served under 
Gen. Ambercrombie, in 1758, petitioned the General Court 
for allowance for expense by sickness in the service. 

In 1760, Rev. Mr. Rawson was dismissed from the West 
Precinct church, after a ministry of five years, not distin 
guished for usefulness, or harmony between pastor and peo- 
ple. Mr. R. was a man of learning and ability, with talent 
for controversy, quick and sharp at repartee, and making 
rather too free use of his peculiai' ability in this direction. It 
is related of him, that being told some of his parishioners 



FRENCH WARS TO THE REVOLUTION. 147 

were in the habit of making him a subject of mirth, he 
preached the next Sabbath from the words, " And I was the 
song of the drunkards." It was called a very "moving" 
sermon, so much so that many of his hearers left the house. 
Soon after, he preached from the passage, " And they being 
convicted, one by one." On this occasion none retired. In 
Alden's Memorabilia of YarmoiUh, preserved in the Mass. 
Hist. Coll., 179S, the following anecdote is related, copied 
from the second edition of Dr. Gay's sermon at his installa- 
tion : "The Rev. Mr. Stone, of Harwich, a grave gentleman, 
attending a funeral at Yarmouth, and being in the burial 
place some years after the death of Mr. Cotton, inquired for 
Mr. C.'s grave, but there not being any one who could show 
it, he remarked, " I think it is with Mr. Cotton's grave as it 
was with Moses, that distinguished servant of God, no man 
knoweth of his sepulchre to this day." Mr. Rawson adds, 
' This was the only one of the first seven ministers whose 
dust was committed to the earth, in Yarmouth. Whatever 
they suffered the worm did not feed on them there.'" 

In 1 76 1 the East Precinct meeting-house was enlarged, 
and additional pew room, which had been gained thereby, 
was sold. 

The Rev. Joseph Green, Jr., succeeded Mr. Rawson, in 
1762. 

In 1763, Rev. Josiah Dennis, pastor of the East Precinct, 
died, Aug. 31, at the age of 69. Col. Joseph Thacher died 
the same year, aged 64. Col. Thacher was son of Hon. John, 
and distinguished himself in the Cape Breton expedition, 
and afterwards in the succeeding French War. 

In 1764, Hon. John Thacher, brother of the foregoing, 
died, probably in Barnstable, aged 89 years. He was born 
in this town, in 1675, Register of Deeds for about thirty 
years, for many years Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, 
and colonel of the militia. In 1765, Mr. Isaac Chapman 
died. He was a descendant of Ralph, who came first to 



148 OLD YARMOUTH. 

Duxbury, in 1635, and whose sons settled in Barnstable and 
Yarmouth, where his descendants reside. The Selectmen 
laid out two open ways, for the conveniency of South Side 
people, " to repair to meeting, mill and market, according to 
their petition." Their report was read and approved by the 
town, March 19, 1765. 

Parish and ministerial matters, for a long time thencefor- 
ward are the most prominent matters of record of public 
interest. 

In 1764 the West Precinct "voted that the fore-seat on 
the west side of the meeting house, from the stair-way as far 
as the alley and the next two seats right behind, should be 
allowed for the men-singers upon the Sabbath-days, for one 
year." James Taylor was allowed to have seven shillings 
six pence for sweeping and taking care of the meeting-house 
for a year. In 1765 half an acre of land was granted to Rev, 
Mr. Green on which to build a parsonage, at his own expense, 
with the express condition that on his ceasing to be their 
minister it was to be taken by the parish, at the appraisal of 
indifferent persons. That was the parsonage known to the 
older people in their earlier days. A committee was chosen 
in the spring of 1768, to present a plan for "opening and 
widening the meeting-house," which was adopted a few days 
later. The change consisted in cutting the building into two 
parts and inserting a section fifteen feet long. A porch was 
built on the south end fourteen feet square at the bottom, 
and so up to the jet of said house in height, with the rafters 
twenty feet long, and said porch was built according to that 
proportion. The back side and the west side were covered 
with clapboards and furnished with new windows, the north 
side being finished, as far as possible, like the south. The 
building committee consisted of Capt. Richard Baxter, David 
Thacher, Esq., and Mr. Joshua Taylor, who were empowered 
to hire one hundred pounds for carrying on the work. The 



FRENCH WARS TO THE REVOLUTION. 149 

pulpit was to be supplied with a new pair of stairs, with a 
new sounding-board, " with iron work thereto that is needful 
and fashionable, and colored with a fashionable color, with a 
deacon seat and communion table, they being fashionable 
and colored fashionably also, and they are to be in the 
form and fashion as Barnstable East Precinct have their's in." 
It was also voted that " the old vane should be put up again 
with some addition to the spindle, as the committee think 
proper." The old turret was to be taken off from the centre 
of the building and a new steeple erected in its place. The 
old building being thus rehabilitated the area within was laid 
out in sections for pews, and the "spots " sold at auction, 
the society building only the minister's pew. 

The church being completed and in beautiful order, was 
called to mourn the death of its minister, on the fifth of 
November, 1768, in the seventh year of his ministry, at the 
early age of 42. 

Mr. Green's successor. Rev. Timothy Alden, was installed 
in Dec. 1769, he being the seventh in succession of the pas- 
tors of the church, and his pastorate coming down to a time 
within the memory of many of the present generation. 

In 1770, Mr. Elisha Snow was school-master of this town. 
The town deferred action on the subject of a "work-house 
for the poor to go into." 



CHAPTER XV. 
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 

The Patriotic Record of the Town — Unjust Aspersions — Action of the Committees of 
Correspondence, Observation and Prevention — Obstruction'of the Courts — Rally to 
Dorchester Heights — Preparations and Precautions — The Lexington and Concord 
Alarm — Votes by the Town and Parishes for raising Troops — Vote in favor of 
Independence — Action of the Precincts — Wreck of the Frigate Somerset — Distress of 
the People — Peace declared — Capt. Isaac Sears — Wreck of British war ship Cum- 
berland — Education — Small Pox — Suit against Thomas Greenough — Shipwrecks 
and other Casualties — Division of the Town, and Incorporation of Dennis. 

WE have now approached a period in the history of the 
times, when the issues which had long been pend- 
ing between the colonies and the mother country, were becom- 
ing clearly and. sharply defined. The question for our fathers 
to decide was, whether they and their descendants were 
henceforth to enjoy the liberties which were common to 
British subjects, or sink into vassalage, dependent upon the 
pleasure of the Crown and of Parliament. It was not, as 
they conceived, for any such purpose as this, that they came 
to these shores, subdued the v/ilderness, and repelled the 
French and Indian assailants ; suffering in those years 
untold privations, and expending their blood and treasure 
without limit or stint. That the people of this town were, 
from the beginning, in full sympathy with the popular cause, 
is indisputable, and is abundantly shown by contemporaneous 
writings, and the traditions which have come down to us. 
For a fev/ years preceding the Revolutionary war, it is true, 
the town's records were meagrely and imperfectly kept. 
This is a matter of regret, but hardly justifies the taunts and 



THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 151 

implied censure of a Cape historian," that the citizens were 
lukewarm in the cause of liberty; particularly in view of the 
conspicuous services many of them were rendering in this 
cause, the utter absence of record of any unpatriotic acts, and 
the almost universal participation of her citizens in the 
great struggle that followed. A most significant thing in 
the action of this town, is the fact, that while it almost uni- 
formly avoided fulminations of opinion, in practical and tangi- 
ble work, it was abreast, if not ahead of, most of its contem- 
poraries. Thus, wc find that in 1705, 1766, and 1767, at town 
meetings held to consider the stamp act, the riots, the muti- 
ny act, etc., while the town refrained from putting their 
views upon record, they chose and continued in office, from 
year to year, a Representative of rare maturity of judgment, 
whose voice and votes' were always on the side of popular 
rights. The testimony of the men and women of the Revo- 
lutionary period, many of wdiom were the ancestors of tlie 
elder portion of the present generation, was uniform and 
emphatic in the declaration that the sympathies of tlie people 
of this town were, v/ith singular unanimity, enlisted in behalf 
of the popular cause. Liberty-poles, those outward expres- 
sions of the popular feeling, were early erected at two places 
in the Western parish ; one, on the eminence for many years 
called ''Liberty LlillJ'' another, in front of the West Parish 
meeting-house. Around these po:cs, the "Sons of Liberty " 
were wont to assemble in the evenings, for the exchange of 
sentiments, and to summon to their presence the few luck- 
less wights \\\\o were so imprudent as to make remarks 

' Freeman's History of Capa Cod, vol. ii, p. 220 : " Althou.^h we liave rer.chsd, in these 
annals, the period when the country is being convulsed by political excitement, we look i.\ 
VAIN for any popular demonstration here. In fact, the record is unique, and so far out of 
the ordinary course of records of tovi'n meetings, that it .\ppe.mis significant. " P. 222 : 
<' That there were " Sons lI Liberty " here is patent from other sonrces [than the town rec- 
ords.] After the bold stride taken by the " body of the people " during the memoral>Ie days 
of September, its influence is seen, even where ap.^thv had seemed to kroou 

HITHERTO." 

' This eminence is in the rear of the Iulo,' of Mr. D. G. Eldridge, on tlio Hyannis road. 



152 OLD YARMOUTH. 

inimical to the common cause; and after disciplining them, 
for their imprudence, require them to dance around the 
" Liberty-pole," in token of their penitence and renunciation 
of their errors. 

A peculiarity of the internal economy of the town remains 
to be noticed. In those days, when church and state were 
so closely related, the citizens were wont to meet in separate 
parishes, to consider and act upon the various subjects of 
importance that were constantly coming up, resorting to the 
town meeting only upon infrequent and highly important 
occasions. This narrative, therefore, recites the proceedings 
of the town, in respect to the momentous concerns of the 
day, both in its collective capacity, and of its action by 
parishes or precincts, as the occasion may require. 

The sympathies of the people of Yarmouth for the suffering 
citizens of Boston, during the operation of the Port bill, in 
1774, may be inferred from an acknowledgement of contribu- 
tions received, viz: "Yarmouth, East Parish, ^7.43. 8d., 
West Parish, ^5. 6s. 8d." Oct. 11, 1774, at a meeting of 
the town, Capt. Elisha Basset, Capt. Solomon Crowell, and 
Messrs. Joseph Crowell, Moses Baker, Stephen Hallet, 
Joseph Griffith and Micah Chapman, were chosen as a com- 
mittee of observation and prevention. Nov. i, another 
meeting was held, and Capt. Enoch Hallet, Jonathan Howes, 
Seth Tobey, Joseph Griffith and Isaac Matthews, Jr., were 
appointed delegates to the " County Congress " to meet at 
the court-house in Barnstable, on the i6th inst. Barnabas 
Eldridge, "-''Reuben Taylor, Abner Crowell, Isaac Hallet, 
Edmund Bray, Isaac Berry, James Howes, Samuel Eldridge, 
John Chapman, James Baker, Moses Baker and Abner Chase, 
were chosen "a committee to see that no tea is consumed in 
Yarmouth ;" and Capt. Enoch Hallet, Seth Tobey, and Dan- 
iel Taylor, for a " standing committee." 

An important occurrence in 1774, was the interruption of 
the sessions of the courts in this County, by the " Body of 



THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 153 

the People," who assembled in large numbers, and with such 
overpowering show of force, that all resistance was impossi- 
ble, even if the Judges had desired to make it — v/hich, it is 
very plain, they did not. The occasion of this step, was the 
act of Parliament, in violation of the provisions of the 
charter, by which the king was authorized to appoint the 
Council of the colony by mandamus, and the Sheriffs of the 
several Counties were directed to appoint the jurors, instead 
of drawing them from the boxes by the Selectmen. In 
September, a large body of the first citizens of the County, 
some 1500 in numbers, with accessions from Wareham, 
Rochester and Middleboro, assembled at Barnstable, in front 
of the Court House. Commissioners were appointed to 
ferret out those suspected of Toryism or disaffection to the 
popular cause, who, upon its being ascertained, were com- 
pelled to recant, some of them doing so very reluctantly. 
At length the court made its appearance, and the venerable 
Chief Justice, Col. James Otis, demanded to know by what 
authority and for what purpose, this body had assembled. 
Dr. Nathaniel Freeman, the conductor-in-chief, replied, in 
substance, that the people, alarmed by the encroachments 
upon their liberties, determined to prevent the sessions of 
the courts. The Justices then, after making a formal protest, 
retired, without making further effort to transact business. 
This was the last session of the Court of Common Pleas 
held or attempted to be held, under the king's authority, in 
this County. A Committee, embracing citizens of every 
town in the County, was appointed to request of the military 
officers that they would not longer hold commissions under 
the present captain-general, those from Yarmoutli being, 
/' Daniel Taylor, Isaac Hamblin and Joseph Crowell. 

Jan. 22, 1775, Capt. Elisha Basset was chosen a represen- 
tative to "the Congress to be held at Cambridge, on the ist 
day of February;" and March 2, Seth Tobey, Isaac Matthews, 
Dea. John Sears, James Baker and Daniel Taylor were chos- 



154 



OLD YARMOUTH. 



en a committee "to see that all the resolves of the Conti- 
nental Congress be adhered to." 

All these conferences, resolves and pledges of fidelity to 
each other and to the common cause, by these sturdy yeomen 
and sailors, were speedily put to the test of actual experience. 
The aggressive acts of the three thousand English soldiery, 
who, under Lord Percy and Major Pitcairn, marched out to 
Lexington and Concord on that bright 19th of April, 1775, 
converted a protesting, to an aggressive, people; ready to 
face death in defence of their liberties and firesides. The 
men of this town were ready for the decisive hour ; not a 
moment was lost ; and, as the announcement was received 
that the first blow had been struck, brought by rapidly-riding 
couriers, and communicated from man to man, 

— " Then and there was hunying to and fro,'' 

and at once the militia of the town, 60 officers and men, 
under Capt. Jonathan Crowell, and Capt. Micah Chapman's 
company, in the eastern part of the town — numbers not 
given, but probably about the same — started for the scene 
of hostilities. But the news that the red-coats had been 
driven into Boston, met them ere they had proceeded far, 
and ill three days, the volunteers had all returned to their 
homes. The numbers who had rushed, unbidden, to the 
defence of the country, greater than could be mustered, even 
now, by a town twice as populous as then, shows the terrible 
earnestness and intensity of the popular feeling. 

April 22, the tov/n voted, that there should be money 
drawn out of the hands of the constables, "to purchase arms 
and ammunition for the inhabitants of Xho, \.o\\'c\. at this dis- 
tressing dayy And April 27, at a town meeting '' warned by 
the military ofBcers," said ofificcrs were made a committee to 
advise with the Barnstable, Harwich and Sandwich commit- 
tees, concerning keeping a watch or watchers;" and Capt. 
Joshua Gray, Capt. Micah Chapman and Lieut. Israel Nick- 
erson, to advise other committees " concerning appointing a 



THE REVO LUr ION ARY WAR. 155 

post or posts." May r, voted that the monies which the 
constables have in their hands for 1773 and 1774, belonging 
to the Province, be paid into the hands of Henry Gardner, 
Esq., and that "the town will indemnify said constables." 
No more payment of the people's money, to the King's 
treasurer! Aug. i, Capt. Elisha Basset, Stephen Hallet, 
Seth Tobey, Atherton Hall, Abner Crowell, Jr., Isaac Mat- 
thews, Jr., Elisha Thacher, Dea. John Sears, and Israel 
Nickerson, were chosen a committee of safety, and their 
power was indefinitely continued, Dec. 19. Oct. 31, voted to 
recommend to the inhabitants not to send any grain out of 
the county. The citizens v/ere preparing for the hard timeS) 
which they felt vv^ere so imminent. 

The calls for relief to the army investing Boston, were 
duly honored. Gen. Washington having, early in the year, 
represented to the General Court, the necessities of the army, 
requesting immediate assistance in procuring blankets for 
the soldiers, the Selectmen of every town were appealed to 
for assistance. 203 men were also required of this County, 
the proportion for Yarmouth being 40. Maj. Enoch Hallet, 
of Yarmouth, was, with Capt. Knowles, on this committee 
for the County of Barnstable. 

The opening of 1776 found the patriotic flame blazing 
with unwonted intensit)^ here, and a determination pervaded 
all classes to resist to the last extremity, the British preten- 
sions. All the people were animated by a common spirit. 
Washington, having early this year determined upon the 
e.xpulsion of the British from Boston, wrote to the Council of 
Massachusetts Bay, submitting to their wisdom "whether it 
may not be best to direct the militia of certain tov/ns, contig- 
uous to Dorchester and Roxbury to repair to the line at those 
places with arms, ammunition and accoutrements, instantly, 
upon a given signal," the suggestion was favorably 
received. Yarmouth was one of the towns called upon. 
Capt. Joshua Gray, who commanded the militia, at once set 



156 OLD YARMOUTH. 

forth, accompanied by a drummer, to call for volunteers. 
Every one was ready and willing to go. The night was 
spent in preparation. In the chamber of the ancient house 
now standing at the corner of Hallet and Wharf streets, the 
mothers and daughters spent the night in molding bullets 
and making cartridges, and at early dawn, 8i men, under the 
command of Capt. Gray, were on the march for Dorchester. 
March 8, David Thacher, John Hall and Seth Tobey were 
chosen a committee ^f correspondence, "nspection and safety. 
May 21, the Sdectmen reported, that money which they had 
received from the constables for the purchase of arms and 
ammunition still remained in their hands. They had sent to 
Nantucket and other places, but could make no purchases; 
and they were directed to pay over the money to Henry 
Gardner, Esq., Province Treasurer. 

The sentiment in favor of separation from the mother 
country had constantly been gaining strength and intensity 
by the events of the year, which followed the affairs at Lex- 
ingtonj Concord and Bunker Hill, and the towns having been 
requested to advise their representatives whether, " if Con- 
gress should, for the safety of the colonies, declare their inde- 
pendence, the people will sustain them in the act," a meet- 
ing was held June 20th, a fortnight before the Declaration 
of Independence, by the Continental Congress, — in which it 
was unanimosly voted, "that the inhabitants of the town of 
Yarmouth do declare a state of INDEPENDENCE OF 
THE KING OF GREAT BRITAIN, agreeably to a late 
resolve of the General Court, if in case the wisdom of Con- 
gress should see proper to do it." This bold declaration, 
though qualified by a contingency, — one which was very sure 
to occur, — correctly mirrored the spirit of determination 
which pervaded the people of this town. No other commun- 
ity in the State, so far as has been observed, responded to 
the inquiry of the Provincial Congress with anything like the 
decision and distinctness of Old Yarmouth. And she made 



THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 157 

good her promise, in the dark and perilous years which 
followed. 

The town, at the same meeting, voted to raise a committee 
of seven to draw up a report of the grievances under which 
the town labored, and at an adjourned meeting, held on the 
27th inst., following, the committee's report was received and 
adopted. The report was signed by but four of the seven 
members of the committee, viz : David Thacher, Joshua Gray, 
James Hawes, and Will. Thacher. The subject-matter of 
the report was of local and temporary, rather than of general 
importance, and was to the following purport : i. The "resi- 
dence of the Register of Probate, in an extreme western town 
in the County," and " in consequence widows and orphans 
are put to great expense ;" a more central position is expedi- 
ent. 2. The organization of the militia is objectionable — the 
field officers are unpopular, and some are not willing to serve 
under them. 3. The blending of the civil and military 
appointments is disapproved ; "occasion may require an appeal 
from military authority to the judicial." 4. "Test acts" 
and "documents proposed for signatures as tests of loyalty 
to the country," are denounced. " These have already caused 
much difficulty." This report, so far as it treated of County 
affairs, was not favorably received by all parts of the town, 
and the East precinct, at a meeting held Aug. 22, put on 
record a protest against the action of the town. The special 
bearing of a portion of the report is unintelligible at this 
period. 

David Thacher, Joshua Gray, Isaac Thacher and Wm. 
Hallet, a committee on a new constitution of the State 
government, submitted a report, and the meeting "consented 
to the revision." 

Nov. 10, the town adopted precautions to prevent the 
necessaries of life from being sent to distant places, and to 
provide for the wants of the poor and distressed, by compell- 
ing: those who had more than was sufficient for their own 



158 OLD YARMOUTH. 

wants, to sell at such a price as a committee of the citizens 
should deem reasonable. The town also made it criminal to 
sell, or offer to sell, cheaper for hard money than for paper. 

May 27, 1777, the town chose Joseph Crowell, Jr., Josiah 
Thacher and Joseph Hall, a committee of correspondence, 
inspection and safety. June 30, the town chose John Chap- 
man, Stephen Homer, Joseph Thacher, Israel Nickerson and 
Joseph Crowell, Jr., to prosecute breaches of an act, entitled, 
"An act to prevent monopoly and oppression." 

The West Precinct, May 2, voted to raise 24 men for tb.e 
army — one seventh of all over 16 years of age — and chose 
a large committee to carry out the vote, according to the 
resolve of the Legislature. As an encouragement to volun- 
teers, it was voted that those who have enlisted or shall enlist 
in the continental service for three years or during the war, 
" for the bounty given by the continent or state," shall not 
be held to pay any tax that shall be levied by the precinct, to 
encourage every seventh man to go into the service. i6th 
and 17th, at meetings held, the 36 men were engaged. Aug. 
29th, it was voted to supply the families of the soldiers that 
are in need at the stipulated price. Sept. 16, raised ;!{^84for 
two 8-months men, being the amount paid by a number of 
drafted men in the precinct. The names of 12 of 24 men, 
being those whose families were supplied by the precinct, 
are preserved on the precinct's account book, and they areas 
follows : Laban Lynde, Joseph Thacher, Benj. Downs, 
Thomas Baxter, Joseph Nickerson, Benjamin Burgess, Reu- 
ben Marchant, David Baxter, Elisha Matthews, Jona. Bur- 
gess, Howes Hallet, Elisha Miller. 

The East Precinct voted, that the two companies [north 
and south.-*] unite in raising men for the service, and voted 
to give to those enlisting for three years or during the war, 
one hundred dollars, and to those that enlisted until the loth 
of January, fifty dollars. They also voted to raise by draft, 
all required after volunteering ceased. 



THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 159 

With all their privations, their means of livelihood on the 
sea being cut off, the families of the absent soldiers in many 
cases, had to be provided for ; they also met the requisitions 
for the continental army for supplies. This year Yarmouth 
honored a call for 23 blankets for the army. 

The West Precinct of the town, at a meeting held July 26, 
to procure enlistments for the army, voted to raise the sum 
oi j[^']6 6%. 8d., "over and above the encouragement by the 
country," to pay five men "to go into the service of the 
colony." David Thacher was chosen the Treasurer, and the 
committee reported that they had agreed with five men to go 
into the service, for which they were to be paid by the pre- 
cinct ^69 6s. 8d. The Treasurer's account shows that of 
the men enlisted, four went to Ticonderoga, viz : Josiah 
Miller, Reuben Taylor, Lewis Thacher and Reuben Paddock, 
who were paid ^{^13 6s. 8d. The East Precinct, also, at a 
meeting held July 25th, voted to raise four men to go into 
the service, and chose a committee to carry the vote into 
effect. 

In May, 1778, the town, after choosing their Representa- 
tives, gave them instructions as to the performance of their 
duties. These were, in brief, i. Pearly and constantly to be 
in attendance on legislative duties ; 2. To guard against 
inequalities of burdens ; and 3. Reasons why the constitution 
of government "should have been preceded by a declaration 
of rights." 

The brigadier, or commanding officer in this county, was 
required to detach 70 men for Rhode Island ; of these, 14 
were to come from Yarmouth. 505 shoes, stockings and 
shirts for the army, were called for from Barnstable County, 
Yarmouth's portion being 73. 

The West Parish sent three additional men into the service 
for eight months, and agreed to pay them ;!^ioo. But the 
Parish refused to pay the 30-days men, who went to Rhode 
Island, or to send seven men to P'ishkill. The East Precinct 



i6o OLD YARMOUTH. 

also chose a committee to secure and provide means for fill- 
ing the quota of the north side. 

In November of this year, the British frigate Som- 
erset was wrecked upon the back side of Truro, just 
north of the Clay Pounds, and her crew of 480 men, taken 
prisoners. She had been in the vicinity for two years, com- 
mitting depredations upon the commerce of the Cape, and 
her misfortune was the source of much gratification to the 
citizens. Col. Enoch Hallet, of this town, was assigned the 
duty of marching the prisoners to Barnstable, and from 
thence to Boston. This was a good closing up of the year, 
and though not fraught with results of wide-spread impor- 
tance, gave our people some tangible results of the war. 
The record of the year has the following entry of melancholy 
interest : " Mr. Abner Taylor d. on board the prison-ship in 
New York, Feb. 8." 

A letter from Gen. Otis, to the authorities in Boston, dated 
Oct. 12 of this year, is to the effect, that Geo. Leonard, who 
was at the head of a company of refugees, in the Vineyard 
Sound, had sent a flag of truce, and was desirous of exchang- 
ing Barnabas Eldridge and Isaac Matthews, of Yarmouth, 
and some others, held by Leonard as pi"isoncrs, for certain 
men held by Falmouth people, and captured by them in the 
British armed vessel, the Gen. Leslie, taken in Old Town 
Harbor. 

The year 1780 opened as inauspiciously as the preceding 
year, and is distinguished by few incidents of local import- 
ance bearing on the subject of this chapter. The history of 
this period may be described as a struggle for existence. 
From the beginning of the year, to the end of the war, calls 
for money and supplies for the army, were incessant, but 
could not be responded to by our people. Thus, in June of 
this year, requisitions were made upon the town for $1 shirts, 
pairs of shoes and stockings, and 26 blankets, 10,090 lbs. 
provisions, and 31 men; and this requisition was followed, in 



THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. i6i 

Sept., by a requisition for 24 more men, and 19,374 lbs. pro- 
visions. An effort was made to raise the men. The town, 
June 26, 1780, voted to choose a committee to see if the men 
could be procured, but more than one-half of the adult men 
had already enlisted, and the town was obliged to indemnify 
the officers, if they disregarded their orders to proceed to 
draft the men called for by the General Court. Oct. 23, the 
town memorialized the court, setting forth the impossibility 
of furnishing the beef called for. In 17S1 the town was 
again required to furnish 7998 lbs. of beef, 34 shirts, pairs of 
shoes and stockings, and 17 blankets. 20 3-montbs men vvere 
also called for. It appeared that Yarmouth had been over- 
taxed ^157, and the collectors were ordered to abate that 
amount. In 1782, Yarmouth, Harwich and Barnstable peti- 
tioned for relief from taxation ; a committee was appointed 
by the General Court, and the relief asked for f?)und to be 
reasonable, and the petition was granted. 

In 1783 the country was gladdened by the cessation of 
hostilities; peace was declared, and AMERICA WAS 
FREE ! The boon for which our fathers had suffered, and 
sacrificed, and bled, was secured, and happiness was wide- 
spread and universal. But the blessing of liberty had been 
purchased at a fearful cost. Not only were the material 
interests and productive industries of the people prostrated, 
but many had laid down their lives on the battle-fields, in 
hospitals, and on board the enemy's prison-ships. Many of 
those' who returned, brought with them the seeds of disease 
and death. But those who survived were the heroes of the 
time, and as they fought their battles o'er, recounted the 
story of their perils and escapes, around their peaceful fire- 
sides, the young listened with rapt wonder and admiration, 
and their grateful posterity, as their ranks thinned, year by 
year, rewarded and honored the devotion of these noble 
defenders of our liberties. 

At this period of our narrative it is proper to recognize 



i62 OLD YARMOUTH. 

the important services of a descendant of an Old Yarmouth 
family, who did much to fire the hearts of the people to 
resistance to tyranny, and whose prompt and sagacious action 
was of the utmost value and importance at critical periods of 
the history of the struggle. Isaac Sears, of the fourth generation 
in descent from Richard, "the Pilgrim," and whose father 
emigrated to Connecticut, first distinguished himself by his 
opposition to the Stamp Act, in New Vork, in 1664. He 
had previously commanded a privateer. The people rose in 
a body, and under his leadership, compelled the officers to 
desist from their efforts to enforce the obnoxious law. Put- 
ting himself at the head of the infuriated crowd, and exclaim- 
ing, "Hurrah! my boys; we will have the stamps," they 
were seized and committed to the flames. He was after- 
wards at the head of the Committee of Safety, being popular- 
ly styled "King Sears," and when disaffection entered its 
ranks, in 1774, and the loyalists were near gaining control of 
it, by his prompt and adroit measures he gained a majority, 
and added to its membership, so that it was secured to the 
popular cause. His efforts were not intermitted during the 
years that followed. After Gen. Gage had left Boston and 
sent insiduously to New York, for such supplies for his 
army as might be available, Capt. Sears discovered his plans 
and put a stop to his operations. He was a born leader of 
men, and a pure and tried patriot. 

During the war, about 1778, the exact date not known, the 
British ship Cumberland, came ashore at some point on the 
Cape. Josiah Lewis and others, of Barnstable, got her off, 
and in attempting to get her in to Barnstable harbor, she 
grounded on the tongue of Yarmouth flats, where she 
remained. The place has since been known as "The Old 
Ship." 

The occurrences growing out of the war for Independence 
absorbed the greater portion of public attention from 1775 to 



THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 163 

the establishment of peace, in 1783. The Revolutionary- 
history of the town has therefore been treated by itself in 
the preceding pages, and the narrative of events is here 
retraced, in order to gather up a few facts of interest, bear- 
ing upon other matters of local concern ; and the record is 
continued during the ten succeeding years, in which the 
town remained intact. 

About the year 1777, the small-pox raged among the 
Indians of this town, resulting in the death of large numbers. 
In the following year, it was voted, " that the charge made by 
the Indians having the small-pox, be paid out of the town 
treasury, and that their effects be sold to pay the same ; also 
that the lands formerly belonging to the Indians to live upon, 
be sold or hired out." 

Amid the troubles and distresses of the times, the people 
of the town did all that was possible to promote the interests 
of education and religion. The depreciation of the currency 
rendered the salary of Mr. Alden wholly inadequate to his 
necessities. The precinct, in 1778, resorted to voluntary 
contributions to make up the deficiency, and subsequently 
voted ;£266 13s. 4d., in addition to his stated salary. But 
the deficiency increased each year, with the depreciation of 
paper money, and the amount was not made good until sever- 
al years after the war. Mr. Stone's salary, in the East 
precinct, was raised with more promptitude than Mr. Alden's. 
The town, acting sometimes as a whole, and at other times 
by precincts, took action to keep the schools in operation. 

In 1779, March 30, voted, that the Selectmen defend the 
town against Thomas Greenough and others, who have 
brought action against numbers of persons for trespass. 
And that the Selectmen bring a writ of ejectment against 
said Thomas Greenough, for setting his house and making 
improvements on land that was laid down for the Indian 
inhabitants to live upon, contrary to the directions of the 
Selectmen, This land had been formally sold and trans- 



i64 OLD YARMOUTH. 

ferred by the town, to various parties, for an ample consider- 
ation; and after some subsequent litigation, the town's action 
was sustained by the courts of law. 

May, 1780, the town voted on the new constitution, 44 in 
the affirmative, and 39 in the negative. The constitution 
was adopted by the people of the State, and in September 
occurred the first election for Governor and other officers. 
The following was the vote of the town : For Governor, John 
Hancock 44, James Bowdoin 23. For Lieutenant Governor, 
Jeremiah Powell, 37, James Bowdoin i, Solomon Freeman i. 
For Senator, Solomon Freeman 47, Nymphas Marston 43. 
An act was passed by the General Court to prevent damage 
to Nobscusset meadows ; it was made perpetual in 1797, and 
amended in 1802. 

1783, April 10, a new schooner, called the Perseverance, 
was launched in town, and a party of young persons went 
out in her on an excursion. Being without ballast, when in 
the channel off Beach Point, she capsized, and Miss Anna 
Havves, a young lady of 17, sister of the late Deacon Joseph 
Hawes, was drowned. The interests of education, which had 
languished during the v/ar, again began to receive attention. 
In 1783, and thenceforward annually, the town chose commit- 
tees to secure a school-master, and attend to the interests of 
the schools. 

Dec. 1787, the town chose David Thacher, Esq. and Capt. 
Jonathan Howes, delegates to the State Convention, to act 
upon the Constitution of the United States, and they both 
voted in favor of ratifying that instrument. 

In 1788, died Col. Enoch Hallet, for some time Sheriff of 
this County. He was an active patriot of the Revolution, 
and a man of influence and high character. 

In 1789, occurred a disastrous shipwreck, involving the 
loss of the lives of seven people belonging to this town. A 
new fishing schooner, mostly owned by a Mr. Evans, of 
Providence, R. L, was lost in a gale, on Nantucket Shoals, 



THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 165 

with all on board. Their names were, Howes Hallet, 
master, Josiah Hallet, Daniel Hallet, Levi Hallet, Joseph 
Hallet, Josiah Miller and Moody Sears, all of Yarmouth. 

In 1 79 1, died Capt. Joshua Gray, at the early age of 48. 
But he lived long enough to perform the most important 
services to his native town, as an officer in the field, and as 
a patriot in counsel, during the Revolutionary period. 

The time had now arrived when the people had become 
convinced that it would be more convenient, for the transac- 
tion of public business, that a division of the town should 
take place. There were no causes for disagreement, so far 
as now appears, but the two parishes had become used to 
independent action, and the sentiment in favor of separation 
of the two sections had become quite general. At a meeting 
held March 14, 1793, it was voted, 86 yeas to 4 nays, to have 
the East Precinct set off into a township, and David Thach- 
er, Esq., Lieut. Micajah Sears, Lieut. Josiah Thacher, Lieut. 
Jeremiah Howes and Capt. John Nickerson, were chosen a 
committee to take measures to accomplish the object. 

The act of separation was passed June 19, 1793. The com- 
mittee chosen to present the matter to the Legislature 
represented that the town contained, Dec. 1792, 652 polls, of 
which 367 were in the Western, and 285 in the Eastern Pre- 
cinct ; 290 legal voters, 157 in the Western and 138 in the 
Eastern Precinct ; ;^3293 los. valuation of real estate, ^^1711 
5s. in the Eastern, £1482 5s. in the Western Precinct. No 
opposition to the measure was made to the Legislature. 

At a town meeting held Sept. 3, a letter was read from 
Thomas Russell, containing the proceedings of the Boston 
merchants and others of the town of Boston upon the Presi- 
dent's proclamation of neutrality ; and it was unanimously 
voted, that said proclamation appears to us to be founded in 
wisdom and justice, and is approved by the citizens of this 
town. 



1 66 OLD YARMOUTH. 

Feb. 1794, six men, one from each precinct, were chosen to 
settle up the affairs of the town, viz : Lieut. Jeremiah Howes, 
Lieut. Micajah Sears, Mr. Jonathan Bangs, for East Precinct ; 
Lieut. Isaac Matthews, Mr. Edmund Bray, Capt. Joseph 
Hawes, for West Precinct. These committees adjusted the 
affairs of the town satisfactorily, and henceforward, the his- 
tory of DENNIS is treated in separate chapters. 



CHAPTER XVI. 
THE NATIVE INDIANS. 

Their Numbers and Character Before the Settlement — The Pestilence — Purchase of 
Lands — Their Subjection to the English — Efforts to Christianize the Natives, by 
Elliott and Others — Their Love for Spirituous Liquors — Statistics — Deacon Nau- 
haught, and His Wonderful Encounter with a Snake — Whittier's Poem — The Closing 
Scene. 

THE native Indians of this town, having ceased to exist 
as a distant community, during the Revolutionary- 
period, a melancholy interest attaches to their one hundred 
and sixty years of contact with civilized life. 

It is evident that the natives of the soil were, at one 
time, quite numerous here. The extensive deposits of 
shells, and the number and variety of the utensils and arrow- 
heads which are brought to light, by the searchers of our 
fields, are evidences of this fact. The pestilence, which 
swept away such multitudes, shortly before the coming of 
the English, also performed its devastating work here. The 
Plymouth colonists found the Indians of this vicinity of a 
friendly disposition. They were a mild race ; their spirits 
had been subdued, perhaps, by the losses by death, which 
had occurred among them, which they had reason to believe 
to have been brought upon them in consequence of the anger 
of the Great Spirit for their wickedness in killing the crew 
of a French ship, which had been wrecked on the coast a 
number of years before. One of the captives, whose life had 
been spared, had told them of God's anger, and that He 



i68 OLD YARMOUTH. 

would destroy them and give their country to others. They 
replied that they were too numerous for God to kill. But 
when the pestilence came, they began, with the natural 
superstition of savages, to think that one part of the predic- 
tion was fulfilled ; and when the Pilgrims came, they feared 
that the other part was about to be accomplished. Whether 
for this or some other reason, the English found the Indians 
to be in a very compliant mood. They sold their lands for a 
trifling consideration, and acknowledged satisfaction with the 
terms of the settlement. Masshantampaigne, the sagamore 
of the Nobscussetts, who seems to have been the sachem of 
nearly all the north side of the town, in 1657 signed an 
instrument of acquittance, which has been preserved to the 
present generation, and lived for many years afterwards on a 
reservation near Nobscussett Pond, where an Indian burial 
ground still exisits, which probably contains his dust, but 
which, for generations has received no tenant. The succeed- 
ing year, 1658, Joanno, or Janno, who was one of the 
succesors of lyannough, and whose territory embraced the 
westerly part of Yarmouth, to Masshantampaigne's lands, on 
the East, and from thence to Bass River, southeasterly, 
submitted his claims upon the English to arbitration, and by 
mutual agreement conveyed, for a satisfactory consideration, 
a large tract of land to the settlers. 

The natives at once became the unresisting subjects of the 
whites. Only sixteen years after the settlement, Masshan- 
tampaigne was arraigned on a charge of larceny, and, sachem 
though he was, submitted to the authority of the court with- 
out a protest. 

The subjection of the Indians continued, from the time of 
Masshantampaigne to the date of the extinguisment of the 
race. The spirit of the legislation, no less than the compli- 
ant and unresisting character of the natives, encouraged such 
a result. The English had come here to stay ; the Indians 
were seen to be a fading and vanishing race; "manifest 



THE NATIVE INDIANS. 169 

destiny " decreed that the strong should subdue the weak, 
and none seemed to appreciate this fact more completely 
than the Indians themselves. The colony court enacted that 
punishment should follow from firing a gun, under certain 
conditions, unless at " a wolf or an Indian ;" the town forbade 
them selling tar or pitch or pine knots, and the minister, Mr. 
Cotton, sold the services of '' Jiis Indian, Saxuant," — so 
says the record, — as a janitor of the meeting-house, with as 
little compunction or any suggestion of impropriety, as he 
would have disposed of a negro, or a bullock. 

As a matter of grace, or comity, the town permitted the 
Indians to occupy some of the land of which they had so 
recently been the sole proprietors, at the same time stipulat- 
ing that it was to revert to the town, when not occupied 
according to the stipulation. At the division of the common 
lands, in 1711-13, an ample reservation was made for their 
use and benefit. The whites exercised their authority 
humanely and wisely, perhaps ; allowing the Indians the use 
of such lands as seemed needful, for agriculture and for resi- 
dence. 

Efforts were early made to Christianize the Indians. 
Elliott, the Apostle, called here to settle a controversy in the 
church in 1647 or 1648, turned his attention to the work to 
which his life was devoted. He overcame all difficulties 
growing out of a difference in dialect from that of the Mass. 
Indians, and made himself understood. He was baffled 
somewhat by the ill-nature or quizzical propensities of a 
sachem called Jehu, and encouraged by a pliable one, who 
lent a more willing ear ; but no such results grew out of his 
labors as in Natick, where Elliott spent so large a portion of 
his life. We are told by Gov. Hinckley, that " the ungovern- 
able love of the Indians for strong drink, was a great hinder- 
ance to their improvement. The laws regulating the sale of 
liquors within colonial limits, were disregarded by the covet- 
ous English, when it was possible for them to do so." 



170 OLD YARMOUTH. 

The Indians had such a love for intoxicating liquor, that they 
would sacrifice anything to procure it. Mr. Stone, the 
preacher at Provincetown, used often to preach to Indians in 
other parts. One of the Mashpee deacons was asked how he 
liked Mr. Stone. He answered, " Mr. Stone one very good 
preacher, but he preach too much about rum. When he no 
preach about rum, Indian think nothing 'bout it ; but when 
he tells how Indian love rum, and how much they drink, 
then I think how good it is, and think no more 'bout the 
sermon, my mouth waters all the time so much for rum." 
Intemperance had much to do with their decline in numbers, 
but contact with civilized life, here as elsewhere, seemed to be 
as fatal to them as their vices. Perhaps it was the cause of 
them. 

Rev. Thomas Thornton, the third minister of this town, 
took up the work commenced by Elliott, with zeal and dili- 
gence. He labored, in a large measure, through the instru- 
mentality of the native teachers, and his work was crowned 
with much success. According to Mr. Richard Bourne of 
Sandwich, who spent his life in this labor of love and duty, 
in his time, "the number of 'praying Indians' in Sawtucket 
and Nobscusset, where Indian Manassah was teacher, was 
121 ; in Mattacheese, where Jeremy Robins was teacher, 
was, 70." This gives us some insight into the numbers of 
the Indians then in this vicinity, as well as of their religious 
character, and, as it is not probable that more than half of 
the natives were comprehended in the term, " praying 
Indians," it will be seen that a very considerable number 
still remained here at the time. In a report made in 1765, 
it is stated that there were "six wigwams in Yarmouth, 
which belonged to the church and congregation at Potnume- 
cutt," which probably did not mean that these were all the 
Indians that remained — only that they were connected with 
the society named. They had been gradually dwindling in 
numbers, through disease and contact with civilization. Of 



THE NATIVE INDIANS. 171 

those who went with the English to the wars, very few 
returned. In 1763, nearly all were swept off by " a malig- 
nant disease." Ansel Taylor, who was born in 1748, and 
died aged loi, recollected this sickness, and stated that the 
disease was the small-pox. Soon after the Revolutionary 
war, the greater part of the Indians having died, and the 
remnant remaining, scattered in other localities, the lands 
were, agreeably to the vote of the town, from time to time 
sold. The village of South Yarmouth now occupies a 
large portion of what was formerly the Indian reservation. 
"So late as 1779," says Alden in his '' Meviorabilia of Yar- 
mouth^^ there was a small cluster of wigwams in the south- 
easterly part of the town, about a mile from the mouth of 
Bass River, which were inhabited by some of the remains 
of the Pawkunnawkut Indians. The chief of them, about this 
time, had the small-pox. Five of those who had it, survived, 
and eleven died. It is probable that this part of Yarmouth 
will ever retain the name of Indian town. There is still one 
wigwam [in 1797,] on the banks of the river, which is occu- 
pied by a negro and a squaw." 

In the " Collection of American EpitapJis" published by 
Rev. Timothy Alden, A. M., son of the ninth minister of this 
town, is the following very interesting account of Elisha 
Nauhaught, a Christian Indian of great repute in his day: 

"Elisha Nauhaught, an exemplary deacon in the little 
cluster of wigwams, which were standing as late as 1779, at 
Indian-town in Yarmouth, deserves an honorable notice 
among the worthy aborigines of this country. Several anec- 
dotes are still related of him, to show that he was a conscien- 
tious, honest, and pious man." 

" He once found a pocket-book containing a quantity of 
money. Such were his ideas, however, that he would not 
open it, nor would he suffer any one else to open it, till he 
got to a public house. '' If I zvere to" he said, ^' all the trees 
in the woods would see me and witness against me." 



172 OLD YARMOUTH. 

"The village before mentioned contained many praying 
Indians, as well as some of a different character. Deacon 
Rider, an old gentleman, had lost some turkies, on a certain 
time, and, noc being well acquainted with the character of 
his aboriginal neighbors, fixed his suspicions upon them. 
He rode into the village very early in the morning, fastened 
his horse in the woods, and walked in silence to the door of 
one of the wigwams, where he stopped for a moment and 
found that the Indian was at prayer. He then, without dis- 
turbing the pious occupant in his devotions, passed on to 
another wigwam. The head of the family was solemnly 
engaged in the same manner. He felt ashamed of himself, 
but he thought he would go to one wigwam more. He did so, 
and it happened to be Nauhaught's. To his astonishnent, he 
found him also offering the morning sacrifice in the midst of 
his little family. What a delightful scene ! while the groves 
resounded with the melodious notes of the feathered choir 
the whole village seemed to echo with the prayers and 
praises, which rose from every quarter. Deacon Rider was 
extremely mortified, and vexed with himself, to think that 
he should have suspected the poor Indians of the theft, when 
he found them, before sunrise, pouring forth their petitions 
to Almighty God, in such commendable manner, while many 
of his whiter brethren were sleeping, like the sluggard, and 
never called upon that sacred name, unless to profane and 
blaspheme it. 

" Deacon Nauhaught, in the near prospect of dissolution, 
was visited by the clergyman, in the town, who had much 
satisfaction in the meek, humble and pious temper which he 
witnessed. Among other questions, he asked Nauhaught 
if he felt resigned to die .'' He immediately replied, in Indian 
style, ' Oh yes, Mr. Aldeu, I have always had a pretty good 
notion about death;' meaning, that he had long so cast him- 
self upon the blessed Redeemer and had such hope in his 
mercy, that he was not afraid of the king of terrors. He 



THE NATIVE INDIANS. 173 

soon after left the world, between 89 and 90 years of age, 
and no doubt entered upon that rest, which is provided for 
the people of God." 

This interesting account is supplemented by a curious 
story, in the same work : 

" The following remarkable anecdote the author of this 
Collection had from some aged people, and, particularly 
from the late venerable Deacon Isaac Matthews of Yar- 
mouth, who was well acquainted with Nauhaught. 

"This Indian, who was a very athletic man, was once 
attacked by a large number of black snakes. Being at a 
considerable distance from any people, and having no weap- 
on about him except what the God of nature had given him, he 
knew not what to do. He found it impossible to escape from 
them by attempting to run. He experiencejd, however, very 
little from any fearful apprehensions on account of his personal 
safety. He was perfectly self collected and thought he 
would stand firm on his feet and suffer the snakes to take 
their own course, for a time, without annoyance. They 
approached him from every direction with elevated heads 
and a tremendous hissing. They soon began to wind them- 
selves about his legs. Presently one of them got up to his 
neck and seemed to act as if he were attempting to get his 
head into Nauhaught's mouth. Nauhaught opened his jaws, 
which were furnished with a noble set of teeth. The snake 
immediately thrust in his head and the deacon bit it off! a 
fortunate circumstance, as the result proves ; for the blood, 
streaming from the decapitated leader in the attack, so 
alarmed the rest of the invading enemy, that Nauhaught was 
immediately left master of the field !" ' This wonderful tale, 
like the story of the disaster, at the well in Hockanom, gave 
our local annalists the credit of being of a decidedly credulous 
character. 

' Dea. Nauhaught's house was on the south side of Long Pond, near the Yarmouth 
road. A swamp, on the opposite side, which belonged to his daughter, was long known by 
the name of " Sarah's Swamp." 



174 OLD YARMOUTH. 

The incident in relation to the finding of the money, has 
been commemorated by the poet Whittier, in the following 
spirited lines : 

NAUHAUGHT, THE DEACON. 

Naukaught, the Indian deacon, who of old 

Dwelt, poor but blameless, where his narrowing Cape 

Stretches its shrunk arm out to all the winds 

And the relentless smiting of the waves, 

Awoke one morning from a pleasant dream 

Of a good angel dropping in his hand 

A fair, broad gold-piece, in the name of God. 

He rose and went forth with the early day- 
Far inland, where the voices of the waves 
Mellowed and mingled with the whispering leaves, 
As, through the tangle of the low, thick woods. 
He searched his traps. Therein nor beast nor bird 
He found ; though meanwhile in reedy pools 
The otter plashed, and underneath the pines 
The partridge drummed ; and as his thoughts went back 
To the sick wife and little child at home, 
Wliat marvel that the poor man felt his faith 
Too weak to bear its burden, — like a rope 
That, strand by strand uncoiling, breaks above 
The hand that grasps it. " Even now, O Lord ! 
Send me," he prayed, " the angel of my dream ! 
Nauhaught is very poor ; he cannot wait." 

Even as he spake he heard at his bare feet 

A low, metallic clink, and, looking down, 

He saw a dainty purse with disks of gold 

Crowding its silken net. Awhile he held 

The treasure up before his eyes, alone 

With his great need, feeling the wondrous coins 

Slide through his eager fingers, one by one. 

So then the dream was true. The angel brought 

One broad piece only ; should he take all these ? 

Who would be wiser, in the blind, dumb woods .'' 

The loser, doubtless rich, would scarcely miss 

This dropped crumb from a table always full. 

Still, while he mused, he seemed to hear the cry 

Of a starved child ; the sick face of his wife 

Tempted him. Heart and flesh in fierce revolt 

Urged the wild license of his savage youth 

Against his later scruples. Bitter toil. 

Prayer, fasting, dread of blame, and pitiless eyes 

To watch his halting, — had he lost for these 



THE NATIVE INDIANS. 175 

The freedom of the woods ; — the hunting-grounds 

Of happy spirits for a vvalled-in heaven 

Of everlasting psalms? One healed the sick 

Very far off thousands of moons ago ; 

Had he not prayed liim night and day to come 

And cure his bed-bound wife ? Was there a hell ? 

Were all his father's people writhing there — 

Like the poor shell-fish set to boil alive — 

Forever, dying never? If he kept 

This gold, so needed, would the dreadful God 

Torment him like a Mohawk's captive, stuck 

With slow consuming splinters ? Would the saints 

And the white angels dance and laugli to see him 

Bum like a pitch-pine torch? His Christian garb 

Seemed falling from him ; with the fear and shame 

Of Adam naked at the cool of day, 

He gazed around. A black snake lay in coil 

On the hot sand, a crow with sidelong eye 

Watched from a dead bough. All his Indian lore 

Of evil blending with a convert's faith 

In the supernatural terrors of the Book, 

He saw the Tempter in the coiling snake 

And omnious, black-winged bird; and all the while 

The low rebuking of the distant waves 

Stole in upon him like the voice of God 

Among the trees of Eden. Girding up 

His soul's loins with a resolute hand, he thrust 

The base thought from him : " Nauhaught, be a man ! 

Starve, if need be ; but, while you live, look out 

From honest eyes on all men, unashamed. 

God help me ! I am deacon of the church, 

A baptized, praying Indian ! Should I do 

This secret meanness, even the barken knots 

Of the old trees would turn to eyes to see it, 

Thebrds would tell of it, and all the leaves 

Whisper above me : " Nauhaught is a thief !" 

The sun would know it, and the stars that hide 

Beliind his light would watch me, and at night 

Follow me with their sharp, accusing eyes. 

Yea, thou, God, seest me!" Then Nauhaught drew 

Closer his belt of leather, dulling thus 

The pain of hunger, and walked bravely back 

To the brown fishing-hamlet by the sea ; 

And, pausing at the inn-door, cheerily a^kcd ; 

" Who hath lost aught to-day ?" 

" I," said a voice ; 
" Ten gold pieces, in a silken purse, 
My daughter's handiwork." He looked, and loJ 
One stood before him in a coat of frieze, 



176 OLD YARMOUTH. 

And the glazed hat of a seafaring man, 

Shrewd-faced, broad-shouldered, with no trace of wings. 

Marvelling, he dropped within the stranger's hand 

The silken web, and turned to go his way. 

But the man said : " A tithe at least is yours ; 

Take it in God's name as an honest man. " 

And as the deacon's dusky fingers closed 

Over the golden gift, " Yea, in God's name 

I take it, with a poor man's thanks," he said. 

So down the street that, like a river of sand. 
Ran, white in sunshine, to the summer sea. 
He sought his home, singing and praising God ; 
And when his neighbors in their careless way 
Spoke of the owner of the silken purse — 
A Wellfleet skipper, known in every port 
That the Cape opens in its sandy wall — 
He answered, with a wise smile, to himself: 
" I saw the angel where they see a man." 

On the eastern slope of the bank on the borders of Long 
Pond, in South Yarmouth, thoughtful hands have erected a 
pile, on one of the stones of which is the following inscrip- 
tion, which fitly ends this record of the aborigines of the 
town : 

ON THIS SLOPE LIE BURIED 

THE LAST OF THE NATIVE INDIANS 

OF YARMOUTH. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

FROM THE DIVISION OF THE TOWN TO THE 
CLOSE OF THE WAR OF 1812-15. 

Meeting House at South Sea — First Post Office — Small Pox — Business Statistics of 
South Sea — Death of Hon. David Thacher — Academy asked for - Rev. Dr. Samuel 
West— The Embargo — War Declared against Great Britain — Attitude of the Town 
— Incidents and Events — Peace Proclaimed. 

IN 1794, the people at South Sea, having petitioned for 
preaching among themselves, and requested that Rev. 
Mr. Alden be allowed to come over to them, as often as 
their proportion of the tax paid entitled them to his service, 
the matter was submitted to the pastor, who consented to 
visit " South Sea as often as his health and abilities would 
permit." This necessitated the building of a new meeting- 
house, which was done at the expense of the people there. 
At the dedication, Mr. Alden preached in the forenoon, and 
Rev. Mr. Waterman, of Barnstable, in the afternoon. The 
text' of Mr. Alden's discourse was from Acts x : 29, — 
" Therefore come I unto you without gainsaying, so soon as 
I was sent for. I ask, therefore, for what intent ye have 
sent for me." Both sermons were published. Services 
were held there about one Sunday in four. From 1796, for 
many years, parish meetings were held on the South side, 
about one-third ef the time. 

Party spirit began to rage at this period. Yarmouth, from 
the first, adhered to the Federalist theories. Rev. Dr. Alden, 
writing somewhat later, significantly said, " With regard to 
the political theories of the people, the Jacobinical error is 
not so prevalent as in some other towns in the vicinity." 
In 1795, according to the terms of the State constitution. 



178 OLD YARMOUTH. 

the people voted upon the proposition for its amendment. 
In this town there were 22 yeas and 40 nays. A Post office 
was established in this town, and John Thacher appointed 
Postmaster. 

From 1797, for several years, the small-pox raged in this 
town, and precautionary measures were taken to prevent its 
spread. In 1801, it was voted to establish a house for in- 
oculation, on Great Island. 

By the census of iSoo, the population of the town was 
ascertained to be 1727. 

A contemporary writer, of about the beginning of the cen- 
tury, gives us a comprehensive view of the maritime business 
of the South side of the town. On the Yarmouth side of 
Bass River were six wharves, three near the mouth, and 
three a mile north of it. There belonged here twenty-one 
vessels. One brig sailed direct to the West Indies ; ten 
coasters, from thirty to forty tons burthen, to Boston, Con- 
necticut or the Southern states, and from thence to the West 
Indies. The other ten were fishermen ; one was of seventy 
tons, the rest from forty to seventy tons. One or two vessels 
were annually built at Bass River. At Lewis's Bay, in West 
Yarmouth, there were four coasters, of about forty-five tons 
each, and ten sails of fishermen of about the same size. No 
exact enumeration of the business in this direction, of the 
North side of the town, is extant, but it was probably more 
extensive than that on the South side. 

In 1801, the town sustained the loss of Hon. David 
Thacher, one of the most eminent of her citizens. He was 
the son of Judah, and was born in 1730. He was a Repre- 
sentative for twenty-seven years ; Senator two years ; and 
a member of the Conventions for framing and adopting the 
State and the Federal Constitutions. He was for fifteen 
years a Justice of the Court of Common Pleas. Mr. Thacher 
was a merchant, living near the old home of Anthony, his 
ancestor. His fellow-citizens never permanently withdrew 



DIVISION TO WAR (9/^ 1812-15. 179 

their confidence from him, and in 1798, at his last election as 
Representative, which he declined, the town place on record 
the following vote : " Voted, gratitude and thanks to David 
Thacher, Esq., for the good services he has done the town 
for numbers of years past, he being aged, and declined the 
service any longer." Of him it was said, " his talents were 
solid, judicious and useful, rather than brilliant," and the 
inscription on his tomb-stone, probably with more truth than 
is usually found in such writings, says, "By the constant 
practice of the domestic virtues he rendered himself greatly 
beloved and respected in the various walks of domestic life." 
This epitaph was composed by the Hon. Isaiah L. Green, an 
intimate friend of Mr. Thacher's. The composition of epi- 
taphs was formerly considered a high test of literary skill. 
Dr. Johnson was selected to write Goldsmith's, but insisted 
that it should be composed in Latin. Mr. Alden, not only 
wrote epitaphs, but elegiac obituary verses, of considerable 
literary merit. 

In 1803, an attempt was made by several towns, to pro- 
cure the establishment of an Academy in this County. This 
town voted, to appropriate $1000 for the purpose, provided 
the General Court will allow one to be built in Yarmouth 
and will appropriate a half township of the public lands to its 
support. Col. Thacher and Capt. Charles Hallet, were chos- 
en a committee to petition the General Court in favor of the 
measure. The Academy was finally located in Sandwich, 
Elisha Doane, Esq., being one of the Trustees, for this town, 
for a number of years. The " Forest society " was permit- 
ted, by its committees, " that now are, or hereafter may be 
appointed," to cut down any of the trees that the society may 
have set, by setting others in their place. To the instrumen- 
tality of this society, doubtless, we are indebted for the 
Lombardy Poplars and other trees upon the streets of the 
north side of the town, some of which survived as late as the 
year 1840, 



i8o OLD YARMOUTH. 

In 1805, permission was granted to David Kelley and 
others, to build a draw-bridge over Bass River, without 
expense to the town. 

Feb. 24, 1806, died Col. Thomas Thacher. 

In 1807, Sept. 24, died in Dartmouth, Mass., Rev. Samuel 
West, D. D. He was born in Yarmouth, March 3, 1730, in 
the south-easterly part* of the town, near Swan Pond. His 
father was Sackfield West, a man of humble fortunes, but of 
strong mind, who often used to exhort the Indians in their 
meeting-house near by.' Samuel was early employed in the 
pursuit of his father's calling, husbandry, but discerning men 
discovering his abilities, the means of education were 
procured for him, and he graduated from Harvard College in 
1754. " He became noted for his metaphysical and contro- 
versial talents, and was a thorough critic in Greek and 
Hebrew." He was a zealous Whig during the Revolution, 
and wrote much of a political character, and deciphered the 
letter of Dr. Church, to the British ministry, which disclosed 
his treason and treachery. He was a member of the Con- 
vention which formed the constitution of Massachusetts, and 
also of that which ratified the constitution of the United 
States. He was an honorary member of the Academy of 
Sciences at Philadelphia and at Boston. " He was," says 
Dr. Alden, "as remarkable for his mental powers as Dr. 
Samuel Johnson, the great biographer and moralist. He was 
supposed to have much resembled him in personal appearance, 
and with the same literary advantages would, unquestionably, 
have equalled him for reputation in the learned world." 
His manner was very uncouth, and many anecdotes are told 
of his conduct while engrossed in thought or study, render- 
ing him unconscious of the lapse of time and of everything 
around him. On one occasion he harnessed his horse to go to 
church, and falling into a reverie, took the horse by the bridle 
and led him all the way there. He preached with great 

» This meeting-house stood upon the site of the late residence of Eliakim Studley, of 
South Yarmouth. 



DIVISION TO WAR OF \^\2-\^. i8i 

vigor and power, and without the aid of notes. The origin 
of the family is unknown. Dr. West had a brother, who was 
undistinguished, and the name is extinct in this town. 

This being a maritime community, the hardships experi- 
enced by the operation of the embargo act of 1807, as well 
as of former other restrictive measures of the government, 
operated with peculiar severity here. This measure was 
extremely unpopular and was held by our people to be 
unnecessary and ill-timed. The discontent found expression 
in a town meeting held Aug. 29, 1808, when it was unani- 
mously determined to petition the executive to suspend the 
embargo. Dr. Calvin Tilden, Sylvanus Crowell, Seth Raker, 
Elisha Doane, Gorham Crowell, Henry Thacher, James 
Crowell, John Eldridge and Charles Hallet were appointed 
a committee to draft said petition, which, after sufficient 
time had been given for its preparation, was read, accepted, 
and ordered to be transmitted, by the Selectmen, to the 
President. 

Certificates, under the " Religious Freedom Act," began 
to be filed with the town clerks, by inhabitants claiming to 
belong to other societies than the " standing order." 

In Feb., 1809, an act was passed to incorporate Gorham 
Lovell and others, under the title of " The First Baptist 
Society in Barnstable and Yarmouth." The Methodists also 
began to make proselytes in the town. 

The discontent on account of the embargo continued, and 
gathered strength and intensity. A large amount of capital, 
and all our enterprising ship-masters and mariners of every 
grade, were left entirely without employmient. In Feb. 1809, 
the town again met to consider this subject, and raised a 
committee of inquiry and correspondence, viz : Elisha Doane, 
Esq., Simeon Crowell, Benjamin Ma'"thews, John Gray, Gor- 
ham Lovell, Esq. Subsequently, it was voted that if any one 
present wa.s seriously suffering in consequence of the embargo, 
he was desired to came forward and make it known. The 



1 82 OLD YARMOUTH. 

Selectmen were authorized to afford relief to the suffering. 

The distress of the times did not deter the citizens from 
measures to increase their educational advantages. In May, 
1809, the town granted to certain inhabitants a right to erect 
a school house in Hawes's Lane, near the guide board, leav- 
ing the road to Barnstable 40 feet wide, and to South Yar- 
mouth 35 feet wide. This school, for many years maintained 
in a high state of efficiency, was an important educational 
agency. Mr. James Henry, a brilliant and talented young 
man ; Mr. Hugh Montgomery, the early friend of the late 
Joshua Sears, and other bright teachers, were among the 
instructors of this institution. 

The population of the town, in 18 10, had increased to 
2134. 

In May, 181 1, a report was received, in town meeting, of 
the laying out of " Town Dock." Two years later the town 
gave to the proprietors the privilege of digging out the 
channel, leading thereto, and the profits from wharfage, etc., 
for the term of forty years. 

WAR OF 1813-15. 
The controversies between the United States and Great 
Britain, as seemed inevitable, culminated in active hostilities. 
War with Great Britain was declared, June 18, 1812 ; and 
although entered into and waged for the avowed purpose of 
vindicating our maritime rights as a nation, against the British 
claim of the right of search and restrictive regulations upon 
our commerce, it was, from the beginning, an exceedingly 
unpopular measure in this community. Whether ill or well 
founded, the people of the town believed that hostilities 
could have been averted, by firmness and decision in the out- 
set, and that Great Britain could have been brought to 
recede from the position which she had taken in the matters 
in controversy between the two nations. The war found the 
people already distressed and impoverished by the policy 



DIVISION TO WAR OF 1S12-1S. 183 

pursued by the government for several years preceding it, 
which withdrew most of its citizens from their accustomed 
pursuits, and greatly curtailed their resources. Acting in 
their collective capacity, in town meeting assembled, July 
S, 18 12, twenty days after the declaration of war, the inhab- 
itants appointed a committee to draft a memorial and resolu- 
tions to the President, " under the present alarming crisis." 
The memorial — the purport of which is not disclosed by the 
record — was read and adopted, and the moderator and clerk 
were instructed to transmit the same to the President. The 
meeting also voted in favor of a committee to correspond 
with other towns in the County, " to consult for the general 
good and safety, viz : Capt. John Eldridge, Dr. Calvin Tiklen, 
Capt. James Crowell, Capt. Sam'l Taylor, Elisha Doanc, Esq. 
The political sentiments of the town were indicated in the 
election held in April, 18 14. The vote for Governor was 
very large, 265 for Caleb Strong, the Federal, anti-war can- 
didate, to 23 for Joseph B. Varnam, Republican, war candi- 
date. The Hon. John Reed, of this town, was elected Rep- 
resentative to Congress, from the District, of which Barnsta- 
ble County formed a part. 

Aug. 1 8 14, an agent was appointed " to wait on His E.xcel 
lency Caleb Strong, and procure the guns belonging to 
Yarmouth, if there be any." Also, chose a committee to 
consult and adopt measures for the common safety and 
defence of the town, viz : Capt. Thomas Hedge, Capt. John 
Eldridge, Capt. Charles Hallet, Capt. Isaiah Crowell, Capt- 
Elisha Baker, Mr. Abner Taylor, Capt. Alex. Baxter, Capt. 
John Hallet, Gorham Lovell, Esq. 

A meeting of the citizens was convened on Sipiday, i8th 
Sept., by request of the Committee of Safety. A letter was 
read from Capt. Rd. Raggett, commanding Br. ship Spencer, 
to the citizens of the town of Brewster, containing a demand 
upon the citizens for a contribution of $4000, in default of 



1 84 OLD YARMOUTH. 

which, the bombardment of the town was threatened. Also 
a letter from Barnstable, requesting aid in case of the 
invasion of the town. A committee was appointed to meet 
committees of other towns in the County, at Brewster, con- 
sisting of Capt. John Eldridge and Dr. Calvin Tilden. The 
town met the next day, to hear the report, but without result. 
Chose another committee, " to inquire into the demand, or 
errand, if any shall be made, by flag of truce, viz : Dr. C. 
Tilden, Capt. John Eldridge, Gorham Lovell, Sam'l Taylor, 
Isaiah Crowell, Winthrop Sears, Joseph Eldridge. " Voted, 
unanimously, That as this town have ever expressed their 
decided disapprobation of the present ruinous and unhappy 
war, and have hitherto refrained from engaging in the same ; 
we are still determined not to engage in, encourage or sup- 
port it any further than we are compelled to do, by the laws 
of the country of which we are citizens." 

During the period of the war, the maritime business of the 
people was, of course, almost entirely suspended. In 1814, 
especially. Great Britain being temporarily freed from her 
continental troubles, was at liberty to bend her energies to 
the task of dealing with the United States, and a large fleet 
was despatched to the American waters, rendezvousing 
in the vicinity of Boston Bay, sometimes taking refuge in 
Provincetown Harbor. Notwithstanding the great risk, 
some of our fishing vessels occasionally ventured out, and 
succeeded in eluding the enemy's cruisers. Capt. Timothy 
Hallet, in schr. Victory, bound to the Banks, fishing, was 
captured shortly after leaving port, taken on board the 
Admiral's ship, and his vessel sent to Halifax as a prize, with 
the Victory s crew. The Admiral had a valuable prize which 
he wished piloted to Halifax, and Capt. Hallet was requested 
to act in that capacity. He made the condition of compli- 
ance, the restoration of his vessel when he reached there, 
the liberation of his brother-in-law, Ezekiel Hall, one of his 
crew, with a safe-conduct for his vessel until her arrival at 



DIVISION TO WAR OF 1812-15. 1S5 

Yarmouth. His terms were accepted, and in a short time 
Capt. Hallet had the pleasure of restoring his brother-in-law 
to his family, and his vessel to her owner, Capt. Ebenezer 
Howes. 

Alarms were frequent, and the militia were constantly 
liable to be called out. On one occasion the Yarmouth 
company was a day and night in Barnstable, which was sup- 
posed to be threatened with an attack, and bivouacked in the 
Court House. It was once or twice, under the same circum- 
stances, marched to the South side, which v^as threatened 
by a visit from the invaders. Party spirit ran high, and the 
people of the town refused to take any other part in the 
hostilities than to repel invasion. Many of those who had 
fought and suffered in the Revolutionary War, utterly 
refused to engage in the struggle then going on. The oppo- 
sition to the war was at no time abated, in this town ; and 
the treaty of peace, signed by the plenipotentiaries, at Ghent, 
Dec. 24, 1814; by the Prince Regent of Great Britain, Dec. 
27; and by the United States Government Feb. 17, following, 
was a welcome relief to the people. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

FROM THE WAR OF 1812-15, TO THE SOUTHERN 
REBELLION. 

Post-Office — Bridge across Bass River — Temperance Movement — Rev. Nath'l Cogswell's 
Ordination — Death of Judge George Thacher — Burning of the County House — 
Death of Rev. Timothy Alden — Alms House and Town House Built — Deaths of 
Charles Hallet and Henry Thacher — Surplus Revenue — Death of Capt. Samuel 
Taylor — Terrible Gale of 1S41 — Cape Cod Association Celebrate Here — Death of 
Hon. John Reed. 

DURING the war, matters connected with national con- 
cerns and the public safety engrossed the chief atten- 
tion of the people. In 1813, the town voted to have the 
Post Ofhce removed to near the meeting house, by " a 
majority of 35 votes." In 1815, voted, "to establish a tav- 
ern at Bass River." Also, voted, to raise $125 towards build- 
ing a bridge across Bass River, provided the town of Dennis 
and individuals will be at the expense of the remainder. 
The committee having the matter in charge, estimated the 
whole cost at ^450. Subsequently, at a town meeting, an 
order of notice from the General Court for incorporating a 
company for the maintenance of a toll-bridge was read, and 
it was unanimously voted, that the town consent. The act 
of incorporation was granted the subsequent year. 

The year 18 17 witnessed a great temperance reform in 
the town. The evils of the intemperate and excessive use of 
spirituous liquors had become very great, and the drinking 
habits of the people were entailing much misery upon the 



JVAR OF iSi 2 TO SOUTHERN REBELLION. 187 

community. Seventeen retailers were required to supply 
the demand on the north side of the town, to say nothing of 
the other portions. The formation of the Boston Society 
for the Prevention of Intemperance, was followed by the 
organization of a similar one here — said to be the second of 
the kind established in this country. Several persons who 
had been dealers in spirituous liquors joined the organization. 
The first meeting was held March 6, 18 17, when a constitu- 
tion and rules were adopted, and at a subsequent meeting 
the organization was effected. The conditions of member- 
ship would not be considered very exacting in these days : 
"No member of the society, except in case of sickness, shall 
drink any distilled spirit or wine, in any house in town, 
except his own, or the one in which he resides." "No 
member shall offer or furnish, except in case of sickness, to 
any inhabitant of the town, any distilled spirit or wine, 
whether they be visitors or laborers, but shall use his influ- 
ence to discourage the ruinous practice." The first officers 
of the society were: President, Elisha Doane ; ist Vice 
President, Seth Kelley ; 2nd Vice President, Joseph Hawes ; 
Secretary, Calvin Tilden ; Treasurer, Prince Matthews ; 
Committee, Freeman Baker, Howes Taylor, Anthony Chase, 
Henry Thacher, Esq., Edmund Eldridge, Ebenezer Matthews, 
Jr., John Eldridge, Esq. This society existed many years, 
and was instrumental in checking the evil aimed at in a very 
marked degree. A large proportion of the dealers voluntarily 
gave up the business, as the drinking of liquors was discoun- 
tenanced, and sales were restricted by the authorities. In 
18 1 7, the town voted, " not to approbate a retailer, but to 
approbate one taverner, for the accommodation of travellers, 
who shall give $100 bond not to sell to the inhabitants." 

July 3, 1818, died John Eldridge, Esq., a prominent and 
useful citizen. He was eight years one of the Selectmen 
and Assessors, and six years a Representative in the General 
Court from this town. He left three sons, John, Asa and 



1 88 OLD YARMOUTH. 

Oliver, who were often "heard from "in the next generation. 

In 1820, the town voted, 31 yeas and i nay, in favor of a 
Convention for revising the Constitution of the State, and 
John Reed and Elisha Doane were subsequently elected del- 
egates to the Convention. The work of the Convention, as 
submitted to the voters, was afterwards ratified by a large 
majority, the sentiment of this town being almost unanimous 
in its favor. The third census, taken this year, showed the 
population of the town to be 2232. 

Nov. 15, 1 82 1, Charles Hallet, a prominent business man 
of this town, died, aged 71. 

April 24th, 1822, Rev. Nathaniel Cogswell became, by 
ordination, the colleague of Rev. Timothy Alden, Rev. War- 
ren Fay of Charlcstown, preaching the sermon, from Acts 
vi : 4. Mr. Cogswell soon assumed the chief care of the 
society. 

In 1823, Bass River Lower Bridge Company was incorpo- 
rated by the Legislature. The town "voted, 107 yeas to o 
nays, not to have the Post Office removed farther West." 
This was an expression of the preferences of the voters, for 
the information of the national authorities. 

Hon. Geo. Thacher died April 6, 1824, at Biddeford, 
Maine, having been born in this town April 12, 1754. He 
was a descendant, in the fourth generation, of Anthony 
Thacher, one of the grantees of the town. He was a son of 
Lieut. Peter, and graduated from Harvard College in 1776. 
Having prepared himself for the practice of law, in the office of 
Shearjashub Bourne, Esq., of Barnstable, in 1782, he establish- 
ed himself in Biddeford, in the District of Maine. Chosen, 
before the establishment of the Constitution, a delegate to 
Congress, he was after its adoption chosen a Representative, 
serving in that capacity until 1801. He took an active part 
in the business of that body, and was one of the keenest 
debaters and most influential workers in the House. His 
wit, sarcasm, and power of ridicule, which he had frequent 



ll'AR OF 1812 TO SOC/THERN REBELLION. 189 

occasion to exercise, brought him in collision with some of 
the lea lers of the opposition. On one occasion he was chal- 
lenged by an irate Southern member, whose call to the " field 
of honor," he treated with considerable levity. He said, he 
would write a note to Mrs. Thacher on the subject, and if she 
advised it, he would meet his antagonist. In the meantime, 
the latter might mark his size on the wall and fire away at 
it ; if he hit it, he would own that he was shot. That ended 
the matter. In 1801 he resigned his seat in Congress, to 
accept the position of Judge of the Supreme Judicial Court, 
where he remained until 1824. He was one of the chief 
ornaments of a tribunal, which numbers among its most 
conspicuous members, such lawyers as Parsons, Shaw, Parker, 
Morton, and others whose opinions are quoted and relied 
upon in all American judicial proceedings. His discriminat- 
ing power, sound technical knowledge, and recollection of old 
and unreported cases, were invaluable to his associates ; and 
none of his eminent contemporaries surpassed him, in integri- 
ty, independence and the impartiality of his judgments. Judge 
Thacher was also something more than a mere lawyer; he 
was a man of learning in other departments, and was partic- 
ularly well versed in theological and polemical controver- 
sies ; and his knowledge of history and the literature of the 
period, was surpassed by few of his contemporaries. His wit 
and humor often enlivened many of the dreary judicial pro- 
ceedings in which he took part, and he sometimes took a 
very practical view of what was transpiring before him. On 
one occasion, Hon. Daniel Davis, as Solicitor General, was 
prosecuting a horse-thief, before Judge Thacher, in the 
County of Kennebec. The case suggested a precedent to 
the keen-witted Judge. When he was a boy, he and the 
Solicitor General lived in the adjoining towns of Yarmouth 
and Barnstable, and the day after the Battle of Bunker Hill, 
the militia of the two towns started off for Boston. The 
boys accompanied the soldiers, Davis acting as fifer, until an 



1 90 OLD YARMOUTH. 

order came, for the troops to return home. In their retreat, 
tired of marching, the boys found an old horse by the way- 
side, mounted him and rode for some miles, after which, they 
abandoned their steed on the highway, to return to his home, 
if he so willed. In the course of the trial, the judge leaned 
over the bench, and said, in an undertone, to Davis, " Davy, 
this reminds me of the horse you and I stole in Barnstable." 
Judge Thacher remained on the bench until 1824, during 
which time, his residence was in Newburyport. After retir- 
ing, he lived, with his children, a short period, in Biddeford, 
until the time of his death. 

In 1824, a Baptist Church was organized in South Yar- 
mouth. Rev. Simeon Crowell, a native of this town, was 
ordained Jan. 19, 18 14, the council which met, with reference 
to him, having been held at his own house the afternoon pre- 
vious. Mr. Crowell preached as an evangelist for many 
years after the organization of the church. 

Feb. 26, 1825, Barnstable Bank, to be located in Yarmouth, 
was incorporated, with a capital of $100,000. 

In 1826, the town voted, that a petition be presented to 
the Legislature, asking that salt-works, which had heretofore 
been free from taxation, may no longer be exempt, 93 yeas, 8 
nays. This year, a site for a Light House on Sandy Neck, 
at the entrance of the harbor, was ceded to the General 
Government by the Mass. Legislature, and the structure 
commenced. 

Oct. 22, 1827, a serious calamity to the entire County 
occurred, by the burning of the County House in Barnstable, 
a brick building intended to be fire-proof, with 93 folios of 
Records of Deeds, numerous deeds left for record, three vol- 
umes of Probate records, and other papers of value. 

November 13, 1828, Rev. Timothy Alden, the senior pas- 
tor, died, at the age of 92, having nearly completed the 
fifty-ninth year of his pastorate. He was born in Bridge- 
water, in 1736, a direct descendant of John Alden of May- 



WAR OF 1812 TO SOUTHERN REBELLION. 191 

flower memory. His wife, the daughter of Rev. Abijah 
Weld, of Attleboro, to whom he was married Nov. 22, 1770, 
died in 1796, during his absence from home on a long jour- 
ney. He had four sons and two daughters. The oldest, Tim- 
othy, born Aug. 28, 1771, was settled at Portsmouth, N. H., 
and afterwards became President of Alleghany College, at 
Meadville, Pa. He was an Honorary member of the Mass. 
and New York Historical societies, and was the author of a 
collection of American epitaphs, a work in five volumes. 
Isaiah graduated at H. C, 1799, and became a minister, was 
town and parish clerk of Yarmouth, for some time. Martin 
graduated in the same class with his brother Isaiah, and 
assisted his father, and Oliver became a merchant in Charles- 
ton, S. C. Sarah Weld was born Dec. 1775, and Martha 
Shaw Jan. 8, 1778. 

Mr. Alden was a good sermonizer, peculiarly happy in the 
choice of texts. One of his parishioners, complaining that 
she was not profited by his preaching, he selected for her 
especial benefit the next Sabbath, Heb. iv : 2 — "The word 
preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in 
them that heard it." Another instance is well remembered, 
when the customary day for supplying the parsonage with 
wood having passed, he preached the following Sabbath from 
Proverbs xxvi : 20 — "Where no wood is, there the fire 
goeth out." The wood was forthcoming the next day. He 
had a talent for versification. A poem, occasioned by the 
death of Capt. Joshua Gray, was published in xXit JMassacJuisett.^ 
Magazine. He retained the dress and manners of the Rev- 
olutionary period to the last. " We vividly recall the appear- 
ance of this aged gentleman," says the author of the History 
of Cape Cod, '^2iS •we. saw him last at the ordination of Mr. 
Hersey, at Barnstable, in 1824, seated among the clergy and 
distinguished attendants, on the platform, his antique wig 
conspicuous, in small clothes, with knee and shoe buckles, 
and three-cornered hat lying near by, — objects of interest to 



192 OLD YARMOUTH. 

the young, — we regarded his venerable aspect with thoughts 
running back to antiquity. He sat there as sometimes stands 
a solitary, aged oak, surrounded by the younger growth of a 
later period. It was to us the last exhibition of the great 
wigs and cocked hats ; it left also impressions of a bygsne 
age long to be remembered." 

The town, in 1829, raised a committee to inquire into the 
subject of an almshouse, and James Crowell, James Mat- 
thews, Sam'l Thacher, Gorham Crowell, John Reed, Charles 
Hallet and Gorham Lovell were appointed to consider on the 
subject, and made a report, the purport of which is not dis- 
closed by the records. Nothing, however, was done on the 
subject this year. 

Another committee on the almshouse was raised in 1830, 
but no farther action was taken. $50 was voted for a survey 
of the town. The census of this year showed the population 
to be 2251. The First Parish gave liberty to individuals to 
take down the old meeting-house of the First Congregational 
Society, and a new house was built by proprietors within the 
limits of the old meeting-house yard. The church was dedi- 
cated in November of the same year, the sermon being 
preached by the pastor; text. Psalms xxvii : 4. The cost 
of the building was a little over three thousand dollars. 

March, 183 1, it was voted to build a new alms-house, and 
the following building committee was raised : Nathan Hallet, 
Simeon Lewis, Eben Bray, James Matthews, Ezekiel Mat- 
thews, Jr. 59 votes were cast in favor of an amendment of 
the State constitution, changing the beginning of the politi- 
cal year from May to January. July 4, Dea. Howes Taylor 
died. 

In 1832, the proprietors of Bass River Lower Bridge were 
incorporated. Central Wharf, on the north side of the town, 
was built. Sept. 26, Charles Hallet, Esq., died. He was a 
prominent citizen, a merchant by profession, and for two 
years Representative in the General Court. 



WAR OF 1812 TO SOUTHERN REBELLION. 193 

March 2, 1833, Barnstable County Mutual Fire Insurance 
Company was incorporated, and commenced business in this 
town in the August following. The town voted, unanimous- 
ly, 112 in the affirmative, in favor of an amendment to the 
State Constitution, and of the second article of the Bill of 
Rights, in favor of freedom of religious worship. July 29, 
died Henry Thacher, Esq., a prominent citizen of the town, 
aged -54 years, a descendant, in the sixth generation, from 
Anthony Thacher. He was a merchant by protession. He 
three years represented the town in the Legislature, was a 
pioneer in the remarkable temperance reformation here in 
18 1 7-1 8, and one of the first of the receivers of the doctrines 
of the New Jerusalem Church, in this town. 

The town, in March, 1835, voted >^o build a town house, 
near the centre of the town, and appointed a building com- 
mittee, consisting of, Matthews C. Hallet, Alexander Baxter, 
Isaiah Crowell, Isaiah Bray, and James Matthews. $400 
was the sum appropriated for the work. Ebenezer Sears, a 
revolutionary soldier, died Sept. 20, aged 80 years. He was 
one of the guard at West Point, at the execution of Major 
Andre. 

A society of the Universalist denomination was formed in 
1836, and a church erected. The town voted, 165 to i, in 
favor of an amendment of the Constitution of the State, 
reducing the number of Representatives in the General 
Court. 

The town, May 29, 1837, voted to receive its proportion 
of the surplus revenue distributed by the United States 
government, and chose for its agent, John B. Doane, Esq., 
who was authorized to pay a debt of the town, and loan the 
rest at his discretion. Mr. Doane having died, Sept. 11, the 
Selectmen were chosen to succeed him. Mr. Doane was a 
prominent and useful public man, three times Representative, 
and actively identified in town business. 

March, 1838, chose Isaiah Crowell agent for surplus reve- 



194 OLD YARMOUTH. 

nue, in place of the Selectmen, and voted to use $600 of the 
fund for schools. Subsequently voted, to take so much of 
the revenue as was necessary to pay the sums appropriated 
at the town meeting in March ; also sufficient to buy two 
hearses. 

The remainder of the surplus revenue was absorbed in 
1839. The town voted to take of the fund sufficient to paint 
the town house and almshouse, and the remainder for 
schools; also appointed a committee to take measures to 
prevent the increase of the blowing, sandy wastes, about half 
a mile east of the Congregational meeting-house, and to 
again restore the soil to fertility. The committee were, 
Peter Thacher, Isaiah Crowell, Alexander Baxter, VVm. Hall, 
M. C. Hallet. $500 was appropriated. The committee 
covered the shifting sand with a thick covering of brush, 
and the waste was in a few years reclaimed. 

The second Congregational society, at West Yarmouth, 
was organized Sept. 30, 1840, with sixty-four members. A 
meeting-house was erected. Dea. Anthony Chase died Jan. 
7, aged 83. This was a year of great political excitement, 
in which the people of this town took their full share of 
interest. At no time since 1812-15, have the feelings and 
passions been soenlisted, as during the campaign which result- 
ed in the election of Gen. Harrison, for President of the 
United States. The vote of the town stood, Harrison 238, 
Van Buren 81. The population of the town was 2551, con- 
siderably larger than it ever had been before, or has been 
since. 

Capt. Samuel Taylor, a Revolutionary pensioner, died in 
the portion of the town known as Hockanom, April 31, 1841, 
aged 85 years, 6 months. At the age of 17 years, soon after 
the Lexington and Concord fights, he enlisted in a volunteer 
corps, under Lieutenant Brimhorn, and repaired to the pa- 
triot army near Boston. He was at Bunker Hill, and was 
near Gen. Warren when he fell. He served four and one- 



IVAR OF 1812 TO SOUTHERN REBELLION. 195 

half years in Col. Shepard's regiment, and was in engage- 
ments at Princeton, Monmouth, Saratoga, and in the siege 
of Yorktown, and survived the rigors and sufferings of the 
winter encampment at Valley Forge. He subsequently en- 
gaged in seafaring pursuits, and became a successful ship- 
master. 

The gale of Oct. 3 and 4, 1841, was unprecedented in its de- 
struction of life and property of the citizens of this County, 
especially of those employed in the fisheries. Yarmouth 
sustained a loss of 10 lives, rendering 4 wives widows, with 
16 children fatherless. Sch. Primrose, Capt. Eben Bray, Jr.i 
was on George's Bank, and was never after heard from ; she 
was supposed to have foundered at sea. Sch. Leo, Captain 
X Freeman Taylor, went ashore, high and dry, on Scorton 
Beach, and was got off, without injury. The names of the 
lost from Yarmouth were, Eben Bray, Jr., Peter Bray, John 
Bray, Eben'r Matthews, Jr., Isaac Matthews, son of Reuben 
Matthews, David Hall, David H. Hall, Benj. Whelden, 
Andrew Whelden. The case of Town of Barnstable, vs. In- 
habitants of Yarmouth, for trespass in picking cranberries at 
Sandy Neck, was decided by the Supreme Court for the de- 
fendants. The case was defended on the ground of common 
custom. 

Amos Otis, Edward Thacher and Oliver Hallet were 
authorized, by a vote of the town, to set trees along the 
highways of Yarmouth Port, provided the road be left 30 
feet wide within the trees. The trees were procured in 
Middleboro, and set from the Barnstable line to the Second 
District school-house, greatly adding to the beauty and com- 
fort of the street. 

The Legislature of 1843, passed an act incorporating the 
Long Pond Fishing Co., of Yarmouth, to open an outlet 
from Long Pond to Swan Pond, and to improve Parker's 
River, 

March 5, 1843, Ebenezer Tavlor, a soldier of the Revolu- 



196 OLD YARMOUTH. 

tionary war, died, aged 82 years. May 12, a destructive fire 
raged in the woods in the southeasterly portion of the town, 
spreading over 4000 acres, and destroying standing and cut 
wood, to the value of $50,000. September, the New Church 
society was organized. There had been receivers, here, 
of the doctrines taught by Swedenborg, for many years 
previous. 

In 1844, John Reed, of Yarmouth, was elected by the 
Legislature, there having been "no choice" by the people. 
Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, with George N. 
Briggs for Governor. May 11, died Ichabod Sherman, Esq., 
at that time, and for eleven years previous, one of the 
Selectmen and Assessors of the town, aged 'jy. 

September 13, 1845, occurred in Roxbury, the death of 
Mr. George Hallet, a merchant of Boston, and a native of 
this town, greatly esteemed for his enterprise and high per- 
sonal character, at the age of 61. By a vote of 26 yeas to 
107 nays, the project to divide the town was rejected. 

March, 1846, "leave to withdraw" was reported by the 
Legislature, on the petition of the committees of Yarmouth 
and Dennis, for leave to sell the whaling grounds at Nob- 
scusset. The Legislature took the ground that this was a 
matter over which it had no control. Oct. 13, Dea. Samuel 
Matthews died. 

Jan. 2, 1847, George. Thacher, Esq., a merchant of Boston, 
and a native of Yarmouth, died in the former place, aged 50 
years ; Sept. 5, Capt. Edward Bangs Hallet, a prominent 
ship-master and business man ; and Nov. 17, Col. Isaiah 
Bray. Barque Albert Henry, commanded by Capt. Francis 
Hallet, with the mate and two of the crew from this town, 
sailed from Ralego, W. C. A., and and was never after heard 
from. 

In May, 1848, daily mails were established between Yar- 
mouth and Orleans on the north side and Chatham on the 
south side, of the Cape, instead of tri-weekly mails, as here- 



WAR OF 1812 TO SOUTHERN REBELLION. 197 

tofore, Oct. 8, died Elisha Doane, Esq., aged 81 years. 
He was a native of Wellfleet, removing to this town in early 
life, and accumulating a fortune in trade — a man of sagacity 
and intelligence. He was four years a Representative, and 
a member of the first board of County Commissioners. 

March 17, 1850, the last of the Revolutionary patriots of 
the town, Dea. Joseph Hawes, was removed by death. He 
was born Oct. 11, 1758, and was a descendant of Edmund 
Hawes, one of the earliest settlers of the town. In 1776, 
when 18 years of age, he enlisted as a private in the company 
of Capt. Grannis, and served for nearly three years, in Nau- 
shon and on Rhode Island. He joined Lieut. Barton's com- 
pany the same day that Gen. Preston was taken prisoner. 
During the winter at Howland's Ferry, he and Isaiah Howes, 
Elisha Howes, Abner Howes, one Lawrence, and James 
Robbins, of this town, burrowed in a potato hole sodded over 
at the top, with smoke and frost contending for the mastery. 
During the remainder of the war he followed the sea, being 
five times taken prisoner. In later years he was a successful 
teacher, and after that, for the rest of his life, a farmer. 
He was a man of strong, though somewhat eccentric traits 
of character. Ansel Taylor, the oldest man of whom there 
is any record in town, died July 11, aged loi years and 8 
months. In November, Edwin Chase, of West Yarmouth, 
an insane person, killed a five-year old child of Washburn 
Baker. By the census of 1850, the number of inhabitants of 
this town was found to be 2399. 

Dec. 20, 1852, the magnesia works of Fearing & Akin, South 
Yarmouth, were destroyed by fire, incurring a loss of some 
$5000. 

A new church, erected by the Episcopal Methodists, in 
South Yarmouth, was dedicated Feb. 9, 1853. Rev. Na- 
thaniel Cogswell was elected delegate, from this town, to the 
State Constitutional Convention. 

In Dec. 1853, a severe snow-storm, accompanied by high 



198 OLD YARMOUTH. 

wind and tide, was experienced on the coast. Central wharf, 
in Yarmouth Port, was nearly destroyed, the store and pack- 
ing shed of Hawes & Taylor, located upon it, containing a 
stock of goods, was washed away and broken up, five vessels 
driven from their moorings, and floated ashore. Bark Ida, 
and several schooners, went ashore on Sandy Neck. Sch. 
Leo, of Rockland, Me., came ashore on Sandy Neck, her 
crew missing, doubtless all lost. 

By the action of the town in April, 1854, the school dis- 
trict system was virtually abolished, and a committee appoint- 
ed to build a new school-house, on the North side, and one 
each in West and South Yarmouth villages. The Cape Cod 
Railroad was extended to Yarmouth Port, the first passenger 
train commencing its regular trips. May 19. 

The Cape Cod Association, of Boston, in pursuance of an 
invitation extended to them by the citizens of Yarmouth 
Port, made an excursion to that village, Aug. 2, 1854. The 
members were met, on their arrival, by a procession of citi- 
zens, who, through their representative, Simeon N. Small, 
Esq., welcomed them to the town. Chief Justice Shaw 
responded. The procession, under direction of Col. George 
W. Hallet, acting as marshal, proceeded through the streets, 
to a large pavillion on the rising ground between Hallet street 
and Dennis Pond. The streets were embellished by arches, 
bearing appropriate inscriptions, with flags and other adorn- 
ments. A dinner was partaken of by several hundred per- 
sons, after which, speeches and sentiments occupied several 
hours. Chief Justice Shaw presided, and Mr. Wm. S. Thacher 
acted as toast-master. The addresses were by the presiding 
officer. Governor Emory Washburn, Mayor Smith of Boston, 
Josiah Quincy, Jr., Rev. Nathaniel Cogswell, Rev. A. El- 
dridge, George Marston, Esq., Hon. J. H. W. Page and others. 
In the evening a ball was given in the pavilion. 

Communication by rail was soon supplemented by the 



WAR OF 1812 TO SOUTHERN REBELLION. 199 

magnetic telegraph, an office being opened for busii 
September 21, 1855, followed, soon after, by a rival line. 

A number of old and influential citizens were called from 
earth, during the year 1856. Deacon Joseph White, who 
had also filled the position of Representative in the General 
Court, died Jan. 15, aged 69 years ; Dr. James Hedge, March 
8, aged 82. He was a student of Dr. Samuel Savage of 
Barnstable, and practiced his profession in this town for over 
fifty years, filling important town offices, in the meantime. 
He was a man of extensive reading and varied information. 
Mr. Daniel Crocker, a successful merchant, died March 15. 
Capt. Joseph Eldridge, many years an energetic ship-master, 
also a Representative, died April 26, aged "/"^ years. Dec. 6, 
Capt. Freeman Baker, aged 75. 15th, James Matthews, 
Esq., ']6. Mr. Matthews was for twenty-five years a mem- 
ber of the board of Selectmen, and in other town offices. 

The State Legislature, in 1857, appropriated $2500 to 
enable Levi Baker, of this town, to test in the U. S. Supreme 
Court, the constitutionality of the statute of the State of 
Virginia, by which his vessel was seized and confiscated, 
for violation of a search law enacted for the protection of 
slave property. The case was pending when the war of the 
rebellion broke out, and was never brought to an issue. 

Feb. 7, 1857, Joshua Sears, Esq., a native of Yarmouth, 
died in South Boston. He was a son of Ebenezer Sears, a 
Revolutionary soldier, and descended from Richard Sears, 
the Pilgrim, through his son, Paul ; and was born here 
in 179I5 the third of a large family. The literary edu- 
cation of Mr. Sears was acquired in the town schools, anc. .1 
the old academy on Hawes's Lane, where some good, solid 
learning was taught. Mr. Sears traded a little in his native 
town, before launching upon extensive business enterprises, 
but soon became convinced that this was no field for him to 
occupy. He went to Boston, as he told the writer, with all 
his worldly goods packed in a silk handkerchief ; and it was 



200 OLD YARMOUTH. 

not long before he had taken his position as one of the lead- 
ing merchants of the city, displaying the most remarkable 
abilities in his chosen profession. His judgment was sound 
and his foresight and sagacity never failed ; and he engaged 
at once, in large and comprehensive enterprises. He was 
untiring and assiduous, never allowing the allurements of 
social life to interfere with his business projects, and he ac- 
quired an estate, thought in his time to be one of the largest 
in New England. Mr. Sears was something more than a 
routine business man. Those who knew him well, were 
surprised at the extent and accuracy of his information, and 
his correct judgment of men and books. He had but few 
intimate associates, but when he bestowed his confidence 
and friendship, it was upon those whom he had tried by 
close intimacy and association, and he never deserted them, 
or wavered in his attachment. Mr. Sears married, late in 
life, Miss Phebe Snow, of Brewster, and left one son, the 
present Mr. Joshua Montgomery Sears, of Boston. By his 
will, he left legacies to the amount of over $110,000, among 
others, one of $15,000 to the Town of Yarmouth, for the 
establishm ent of a nautical school. 

Oct. 1858, schr. Granite, of Quincy, came ashore on the 
outer bar off Yarmouth Port, and her crew, five in number, 
were swept overboard and lost their lives. 

The mortality list of 1859, comprised Mr. James G. Hallet, 
Jan. 28, aged 48; Mr. Andrews Hallet, March 18, aged 83; 
and Mr. Prince Howes, at Boston, Aug. 28, aged 69 years. 
Rev. A. K. Packard resigned the pastorate of the P'irst Con- 
gregational church. 

Hon. John Reed, who for so long a period resided here, 
and exercised a controlling influence in public affairs, depart- 
ed this life on Nov. 25, i860. Mr. Reed was a son of Rev. 
John Reed of Bridgewater, where he was born in 1781. 
After graduating from Brown University, he settled in this 



WAR OF 1812 TO SOUTHERN REBELLION. 201 

town, where his rise in public life was rapid and for a long 
time uninterrupted. Owing to the unpopularity of the war, 
he supplanted the sitting member, Hon. Isaiah L. Green, 
and was elected to the Congress of 1813, and after four 
years' service, he was himself defeated, in 1817, for voting for 
what was known as the compensation bill, giving members a 
salary of $1500, per year, instead of a /^rr <^z>w compensation. 
After four years, in the meantime serving one year as town 
Representative, and one year in the Constitutional Conven- 
tion, he was re-elected to Congress, serving until 1841, a 
period of twenty-four years. He was, in 1844, elected Lieut. 
Governor, serving seven years. He subsequently took up 
his residence in Bridgewater, where he died. 

This year marks a new era in our history. Abraham Lin- 
coln was elected President of the United States, and the ini- 
tial measures of the war were taken by the South. This 
year also marks the decline of the American shipping 
interests, and of the growth of the town. 



CHAPTER XIX. 
WAR OF THE REBELLION TO OUR OWN TIMES. 

The Guns of Sumter — First War Meeting — Yarmouth's Opinions — Meetings of Voters 
and Citizens — Money voted for Warlike Purposes — Other Local Events — Fire — 
Ordination — Camp Meeting — Railroad Opened — New Church Edifice — The Pack- 
ets and Stage Coaches — Deaths of Gen. Joseph Hamblin and Capt. Isaiah Crowell — 
New Library Building — Deaths of Capt. John Eldridge, Capt. Allen H. Knowles, 
Dr. Geo. Shove, and Others — Some Recent Events, Etc. 

THE report of the guns of Sumter aroused the sleeping 
patriotism of the people, and transformed a North, di- 
vided in its political allegiance, to a solid phalanx, intent only 
upon the preservation of the Constitution and the Union. 
This town formed no exception to the general sentiment of 
the times. Informal, citizens' meetings, had been held dur- 
ino- the time between the outbreak of the rebellion and the 
2d day of May, 1862, when a legal town meeting was con- 
vened. Hon. James B. Crocker was chosen Moderator, and 
the following resolutions, offered by Chas. F. Swift, as an 
embodiment of the sense of the town, were unanimously 
adopted : 

Resolved, ist. That we feel duly mindful of the sacrifices 
that were made by our fathers to establish the Constitution, 
and perpetuate the Union of the States, and that we remem- 
ber with especial pride and pleasure the patriotic and efficient 
part taken by this ancient town, in the great struggle, which 
resulted in the formation of our existing institutions of gov- 
ernment. 



REBELLION TO OUR TIMES. 203 

2d, That, as citizens of Yarmouth, in comm©n with patriot- 
ic men everywhere in the country, we feel a profound interest 
in the struggle now convulsing the land ; that our earnest 
sympathies are entirely with the administration, in its effort 
to sustain the Government, and defend the flag of the nation ; 
and that, as in days of yore, we are ready to contribute our 
personal efforts and material aid to uphold and maintain the 
national honor, untarnished, by sea and land. 

3d, That, inasmuch as the head of the rebel organization 
of the South has indicated his design to send out upon the 
ocean piratical crafts, for the purposes of spoliation and 
plunder upon the commerce of the country, thus perilling the 
lives and property of those who follow the seas for a liveli- 
hood, it is especially incumbent upon the citizens of this 
community, who have so much at stake, to lend efficient and 
cheerful aid in bringing these pests of the ocean to condign 
punishment ; and we hereby recommend that the best ener- 
gies of our people be especially directed to strengthening the 
maritime arm of our national service, to which their pursuits 
and training so peculiarly fit them to lend efficiency and 
strength. 

The meeting voted liberal compensation to the families of 
volunteers in the army and navy ; but, as it was subsequently 
ascertained there was no legal authority for such action, the 
Selectmen did not act thereon. The women and children, 
on both sides of the town, from this time to the close of the 
war, were unremitting in their efforts to supply the hospitals, 
through the sanitary commissions, with supplies needful in 
that department. 

July 3, 1862, a town meeting was held to procure enlist- 
ments for the army, under the call of the President. David 
G. Eldridge was chosen Moderator. Voted, to pay to each 
volunteer, for three years' service, ;^ioo bounty, when mus- 



204 OLD YARMOUTH. 

tered in, ^loo when honorably discharged, and an additional 
$15, upon his enlisting. The Treasurer was authorized to 
borrow $3500. Fred'k Dunbar, Matthews C. Hallet, N. C. 
Fowler, E. B. Pember, Isaiah Sherman and Theodore Drew, 
were chosen a committee to procure enlistments. Seven 
persons immediately enlisted, and in a few days, it was 
announced that the quota was full. At a town meeting held 
Aug. 14, a bounty of ;^I25 was offered for nine-months' men. 
Most of the men from this town enlisted in the 7th and 40th 
Mass. Regiments. By reason of exemptions and for other 
causes, the quota was found to be deficient, and the town 
voted, Dec. 4, $125 bounty for each additional man. 

In the fall of 1863, a call was made for "300,000 more" 
troops. At a meeting held Dec. i, Charles F. Swift, Moder- 
ator, Oliver Gorham, N. C. Prowler, David Matthews (and 
P'reeman Howes, subsequently,) were chosen a committee, to 
co-operate with the Selectmen in filling the quota. 

April 21, 1864, a town meeting was called to fill the quota 
"under the last two calls of the President." Charles F, 
Swift was chosen Moderator. Voted, to pay each recruit 
$125; also $1000, to pay bounties to such men as had 
enlisted to the credit of the town and had received no 
bounty. The Treasurer was authorized to borrow money 
"under any call the President might issue." June ist, it 
was announced that the quota of the town had been filled, 
through the efforts of a citizens' committee, at an expense 
of about $2,400. Under the last call for troops, citizens' 
meetings were held in July, and a tax assessed on the 
inhabitants, which, though not a legal charge, was paid by 
many of the citizens. The sum of $325 was offered to 
recruits, and $300 to those who had furnished substitutes. 
Dec. 19, Voted, that the Selectmen be authorized to procure 
recruits, in anticipation of another call for half a million of 
men ; but, happily, that call was not destined to be responded 
to. The collapse of the Rebellion, early the next year. 



REBELLION TO OUR TIMES. 205 

rendered further recruiting for the service unnecessary. 
Yarmouth must have furnished about 250 men for the war, 
or five over and above all demands. There were 15 volun- 
teer officers in the navy, from this town, and three of the 
principal pilots on the coast of South Carolina were citizens 
of Yarmouth. The whole amount expended for war 
purposes, by the town, (exclusive of the State aid to the 
soldiers' families,) was $17,017, besides which, $3,592.10 was 
voluntarily contributed by private citizens, to pay bounties 
— in all $19,609. 10. During the war $4,514.71 was expend- 
ed by the town, in aid of soldiers' families.' 

In respect to casualties sustained in the service during 
the war, Yarmouth was comparatively fortunate. Only two 
persons, counted in her quota, lost their lives while engaged 
in their duty. James P. Atkins, of the Mass. 29th Regi- 
ment, was killed on picket duty. Master's Mate, Benjamin 
Nason Hamlin, went down in the U. S. brig Bainbridge, 
which foundered at sea. Isaac B. Crowell, then recently of 
this town, enlisted from another place, in the 13th Reg- 
iment, and after the battle of Chancellorville was missing, 
and was, doubtless, killed. To the large proportion of our 
men who were in the naval service, which, although its 
duties were arduous proved to be more secure than that on 
land, is, in some measure, due this fortunate exemption. 

The events of the war, for a better treatment of the 
subject, have been grouped together. Other events, which 
transpired in this period, are recapitulated. 

In Oct. 1 86 1, Rev. Joseph Bourne Clark was ordained as 
pastor of the First Congregational Church, the sermon 
being preached by Rev. Jacob M. Manning, of Boston ; text 
Isaiah, Lv : 7. On the same day, died Frederic Hallet, 
counsellor-at-law, aged 25. 

In 1862, recruiting for the army formed the chief subject 
of public interest. Rebel privateers were making sad havoc 

' Schouler's "Mass. in the Rebellion," vol. ii. 



2o6 OLD YARMOUTH. 

with our commerce, and these concerns, and the sending of 
tokens of remembrance to "the boys in blue," kept all those 
at home busily employed during this year. 

May 3, 1 863, the store of James B. Crocker was destroyed by 
fire, together with the stock of goods which it contained. 
Loss about $5000, with partial insurance. Aug. 11, a camp- 
meeting, under the auspices of Methodist Episcopal societies 
of the Providence Conference, was initiated. The association 
having the matter in charge, had previously purchased a 
grove about one mile and a quarter from the Yarmouth rail- 
road station, on the Hyannis road, and erected suitable 
buildings for the purpose. This grove, with its accommoda- 
tions, has been greatly enlarged, and improved yearly since 
that time. Oct. 5, died Mr. Ebenezer Hallet, aged 78. The 
last vessel of the Yarmouth Port fishing fleet was sold, this 
year. 

Jan. 2, 1864, Capt. Isaiah Crowell departed this life, in 
Boston, at the age of 85 years. Capt. Crowell descended from 
John Crowe, one of the grantees of the town, whose biogra- 
phy has elsewhere been briefly sketched. The history of 
Capt. Crowell's life, is the old story of early privation, perse- 
verance and ultimate success. He early came to the command 
of a ship. He was in Marseilles when the French Orders in 
Council were promulgated, took the risks of capture, and 
successfully reached the United States. In April, 18 12, 
before the embargo act passed, but with full knowledge that 
it would be, he was in Boston loading for Lisbon ; but, with 
characteristic energy, he put forth every effort to complete 
his cargo and clear for a foreign port. He cleared coastwise, 
for Eastport, bringing intelligence of the embargo, in 
advance of the mail, and there cleared for Lisbon, removing 
his vessel for Campo Bello, in British waters, whence, the 
cargo being completed, he proceeded to Lisbon. On his 
return, war with England having been declared, he was cap- 
tured by a British cruiser, sent to St. John's, Newfoundland, 




J^Jox^e^ -O^^^ur-oH^ 



REBELLION TO OUR TIMES. 207 

where his vessel was condemned, and he was being returned 
to the United States in British sloop-of-war, Alert, — the same 
that was captured by the Essex, Capt. Porter, — who converted 
his prize into a cartel, and sent her English officers into St. 
John's, in exchange for the American prisoners confined 
there. This voyage, of course, was disastrous. By these 
daring and important enterprises Capt. Crowell amassed a 
large fortune. Upon retiring from the .sea, he became a 
Director of the Barnstable Bank, in this town, continuing in 
the office for thirty-seven successive years; and for eighteen 
years was President. He was also for three years a Repre- 
sentative from this town, was agent for the surplus revenue, 
in 1838, and was always recognized as an able, upright and 
energetic citizen. Messrs. Henry G. and Nathan Crowell, 
of Boston, are his sons. Jan, 4, died in New York, Capt. 
Albert Dunbar, son of John H., of this town, an influential 
and active ship-master, agent and owner. 

Nov. 21, 1864, "The First National Bank of Yarmouth" 
commenced business, as the successor of the old "Barnstable 
Bank," chartered under the State laws in 1825. Mr. Ebene- 
zer Bray died, aged 90. 

Dec. 6, 1865, the Cape Cod Central Railroad was opened, 
from Yarmouth to Orleans. Charles Sears, Esq., hotel-keep- 
er, mail contractor and Deputy Sheriff, died March 4, aged 
78 years, 8 months; Dec. 28, Capt, Ezekiel Crowell, aged 
y?>. He served in the Legislature of 1852 and 1853. 

June 22, 1866, the Yarmouth Library Association organ- 
ized, under the general laws of the State. Capt. Timothy 
Hallet died May 7, aged 86 years, 6 months ; Oct. 26, Fred'k 
Dunbar, merchant, of this town; Nov. 5, Mr. Bartlett Bray, 
aged 60. 

June I, 1867, Rosanna Howes, widow of Zenas Howes, 
died at the age of 89. She was of a family of remarkable 
longevity, the last child of eleven, of Isaac Hallet of this 
town. The gross ages of the family was 827 years; the 



2o8 OLD YARMOUTH. 

average ages 75. One of the children, Mrs. Elizabeth Gor- 
ham, attained the age of 97 years. 

Oct. 15, 1868, the ancient cemetery, having been enlarged 
and greatly improved, there were impressive services held to 
commemorate the event ; the chief feature of which, was an 
address, by Rev. Joseph Eldridge, D. D., of Norfolk, Conn. 

March 14, 1869, sch. Electric Light, of Provincetown, from 
Boston for Provincetown, was driven by a severe northeaster- 
ly gale into Yarmouth harbor, striking upon the bar and cap- 
sizing. Her crew consisted of five men, who, together with 
five passengers, all lost their lives. 

June 8, 1870, the corner-stone ot a new church edifice 
belonging to the First Congregational society was laid, and 
addresses were made by Revs. Nath'l Cogswell and J. W. 
Dodge. Dec. 29, the church edifice of the New Church 
Society was dedicated by appropriate solemnities. The 
services were conducted by Rev.'s Wm. H. Mayhew, the 
pastor, and Joseph Pettee, of Abington, the sermon and 
dedicatory address being by the latter. 

July 3, 1870, Brevet Major-General Joseph E. Hamblin 
died in New York, of diseases contracted during the war of 
the Rebellion. He was the son of Benjamin and Hannah 
(Sears) Hamblin, of Yarmouth, and was born 13th Jan. in i82g. 
His youth was spent here and in Boston, but when the war 
broke out he was engaged in mercantile business in New 
York city. With characteristic ardor and enthusiasm he at 
once entered the service, as Adjutant of Duryea's Zouaves, 
( P'ifth New York Volunteers. ) He was subsequently 
transferred to the Sixty-fifth New York Vols., and commis- 
sioned as Major; then, successively promoted to be Lieut. 
Colonel and Colonel. During the two years which these 
promotions cover, he participated in several important 
engagements before Yorktown, at Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, 
Glendale, and Malvern Hill; afterwards in Antietam, Fred- 
ericksburg and Chancellorville. As colonel, he was at 



REBELLION TO OUR TIMES. 209 

Rappahannock or Brandy Station, Gettysburg and Mine 
Run, under Meade ; in the wilderness, Spottsylvania and 
Cold Harbor, under Warren and Grant ; and at Winchester, 
Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, under Sheridan. At the lat- 
ter battle he was twice wounded in the early part of the 
engagement, but refused to leave the field, and his and one 
other regiment covered the first retreat, until the appearance 
of Sheridan turned an apparent repulse into a brilliant 
victory. At Sheridan's request, Col. Hamblin was promoted 
to be a Brigadier General, and after a short furlough at 
home, to recover from his wounds, he again returned to his 
post, and participated in all the engagements of the Army of 
the Potomac, to the surrender at Appomatax. For distin- 
guished service at Sailor's Creek, April 6, 1865, the last 
engagement between the rebels and the Army of the 
Potomac, he was brevetted Major General, and was mustered 
out with that rank in Washington, July, 1865. After retiring 
from the army he again engaged in business. His funeral 
in New York was attended by many prominent officers, the 
Seventh Regiment National Guards doing escort duty. He 
was entombed in Yarmouth Port, many civilians and 
the Masonic fraternity being present to do honor to his 
memory. Gen. Hamblin won his high honors and promo- 
tions entirely by his worth and talent as an officer, having 
no political influence to aid him. He was instinctively 
looked upon as a leader of men, being of fine and command- 
ing person, and of noble presence. His social qualities and 
chivalrous disposition endeared him to those with whom he 
came in familiar contact. 

"No Boston packet this year!" was the announcement in 
the Register of May, 1871. It was a phrase suggesting 
retrospect as well as causing regret. For fifty years, the 
arrival and departure of the packets was the important topic 
of North side intelligence, which was communicated prompt- 
ly to the dwellers on the South side, that they might govern 



210 OLD YARMOUTH. 

themselves thereby in arranging their business or their trav- 
els. The older people remember Capt. Ansel Hallet, one of 
the pioneers of the business ; and later still, his sons, Capts. 
Ansel and Edward, Thomas Matthews, Nathaniel Taylor and 
Edward Gorham. Nothing could be jollier or more sociable 
than these trips to and from Boston, when folks of all 
stations and degrees were, of necessity, obliged to come in 
contact. There were frequent trials of skill and speed, and 
sharp rivalry, especially between the Barnstable and Yar- 
mouth crafts, sometimes accompanied with a little betting on 
the part of the champions of the different vessels. Who has 
forgotten the rhyme, inspired, no doubt, by a sail in one of 
the3e, then matchless, crafts. It was the result of the inspir- 
ation of a Barnstable bard, of course : 

" The Commodore Hull she sails so dull 
She makes her crew look sour ; 
The Eagle Flight she is out of sight 
Less than a half an hour. 
But the bold old Emerald takes delight 
To beat the Commodore and the Flight." 

This excited the ire of the Yarmouth admirers of the old 
packet line, and, having no poet, the issue resulted in a chal 
lenge or challenges, to sail with the shire town packets, and 
their (the Barnstable's,) utter discomfiture, as was contended ; 
and probably the Yarmouth vessels did beat — their share of 
the times. But the advent of the railroad put an end to all 
their rivalries. Capt. Ansel, 2d, died before the end came ; 
Capt. Edward, like another Cincinnatas, returned to his 
plough, and lived long after, with honor and respect ; Capt. 
Matthews filled a large measure of usefulness and public 
regard as a station agent at Yarmouth ; Capt. Gorham served 
the government well at Sandy Neck Light, and Capt. Taylor 
died, while quite a young man. The rival crafts also suc- 
cumbed to the inevitable, as also did the Dennis, East Den- 
nis and Brewster packets. Those lower down on the Cape, 



REBELLION TO OUR TIMES. 211 

lingered a little longer, but the end came to them also, before 
long — packets and stage coaches giving way to steam and 
the railroad cars. 

The old stage coaches, which had run for so many years 
between Boston and this town, had before this time given 
place to the railroad, and the former means of transportation 
had been completely revolutionized. The all-day's journey 
from Boston to the Cape is remembered with recollections of 
pleasure, in spite of its inconvenience and wearisome length. 
Starting at early dawn, and the parties made up of persons 
of all stations and degrees of social life, the stage coach was 
a levelling and democratic institution. The numerous 
stopping places, along the route, gave ample opportunity for 
the exchange of news, opinions, and to partake of the good 
cheer of the various taverns — they had no hotels or saloons 
then. Cornish's, at South Plymouth ; Swift's, at West Sand- 
wich ; Fessenden's, at Sandwich ; and Rowland's, at West 
Barnstable, are freshly remembered by many of the present 
generation. In 1840, the mail arrived in Yarmouth Port 
about 6 o'clock, p. m. A journey to and from Boston, was 
an event of a year ; in some cases, of a lifetime. We can go 
and return to Boston three times each day, now. How will 
it be in 1984.^ 

Dec. 20, the building for a new public library, erected as a 
memorial to the memory of his father, James Matthews, and 
presented to his native town, by Nathan Matthews, Esq., of 
Boston, was dedicated by suitable observances. Mr. 
Matthews, in appropriate words presented the keys and 
delivered the building to Rev. Nathaniel Cogswell, President 
of the Board of Trustees. An address was delivered by 
Hon. John B. D. Cogswell, followed by remarks by President 
Eliot, of Harvard College. The building is in the Gothic 
style of architecture, the main portion is of brick, and the 
principal room of the Library is calculated to accommodate 
10,000 volumes. Mr. Matthews also gave the association a 



212 OLD YARMOUTH. 

considerable sum in money, the entire donation being some- 
where in the region of $7,000 to $8,000. 

The severity of the weather of March, 1872, was said, by 
the oldest people, to be unprecedented for that month of the 
year. It was reported in the newspapers of March 23, that 
it had been three weeks since any communication was had 
with Sandy Neck. In April, the union of the Cape Cod and 
Old Colony Railroad was consummated, the former enterprise 
being one in which the people of this town, especially, had 
been practically interested from the beginning of the project. 

June 20, 1873, a fire broke out in the woods northeasterly 
from the town house, burning over a region of a square mile, 
destroying a large quantity of cut and standing wood. 

Feb. 16, 1874, died Capt. John Eldridge, aged 75 years 10 
months. He was son of John, already noticed in these 
annals, and was early trained to a life at sea. He soon 
became a ship-master, for many years commanding a packet- 
ship, running between New York and Liverpool, before the 
era of steam vessels. "When the packet lines were discontin- 
ued, Capt. Eldridge was in command of other vessels for a 
short time. During the war of the Rebellion, for several 
months, he commanded a transport in the employ of the 
Federal government. He was, for many years, a familiar 
figure on our streets, and his death left a void in our 
community. 

March 25, a close neighbor of Capt. Eldridge, Rev. 
Nathaniel Cogswell, also paid the debt of nature. Mr. 
Cogswell was a native of New Hampshire, born in the town of 
Atkinson, March 5, 1796, graduated from Dartmouth College 
in 1 8 19, studied theology, and came to this town in 1822, 
and settled as colleague to Rev. Timothy Alden, and upon 
the death of Mr. Alden, and until his resignation, in 185 1, 
was pastor of the First church. In 1853, he v\^as a member 
of the Constitutional Convention, and the same year was 
elected an Overseer of Howard University. During Mr. 



REBELLION TO OUR TIMES. 213 

Cogswell's pastorate, two new meeting-houses were erected, 
on the North and South sides of the town, and he took a 
prominent and influential part in the educational and material 
advancement of the people of Yarmouth. One of his sons, 
John B. D., was successively elected Representative and 
Senator, presiding with distinction three years in the latter 
bod}^ Rev. Wm. H. Mayhew was, Nov. 8, installed as pastor 
of the New Jerusalem church in Yarmouth ; sermon by Rev. 
Joseph Pettee, of Abington. 

This record of the town of Yarmouth was regarded by its 
writer, as closed in 1876, the centennial of the Independence 
of the United States, to which its citizens contributed so 
much and so well. Since then, a few events have seemed of 
sufficient importance to re-open the record ; and a number of 
eld and valued friends, with whom the writer had lived and 
moved for many years, having, in the meantime, joined the 
"silent majority" on the other side, he has added a few 
pages, to put upon record a trifling memorial, and throw a 
single laurel-leaf, upon their biers. But for all historical 
purposes else, he desires that the record of events shall be 
considered closed at 1876. 

Feb. 2, 1875, Dr. George Shove died very suddenly, aged 
57 years. Dr. Shove was a native of Sandwich, was in early 
years a teacher, but was educated for the medical profession, 
and practiced in Yarmouth and vicinity, for twenty-five 
years. He was regarded as a remarkably skilful and talent- 
ed practitioner. Capt. Allen H. Knowles died July 4, aged 
61. Capt. Knowles was born in Eastham, and commanded 
a number of fine ships, enjoying the confidence of his 
employers, for his skill as a navigator, and superior business 
ability. Oct. 19, Amos Otis, Esq., died. He was born in 
Barnstable, Aug. 17, 1801. He fitted for college, under the 



214 OLD YARMOUTH. 

instruction of Dr. Danforth P. Wight, but never took a 
college course. For fifteen years he was a teacher. In 
Pvlav, 1836, he became Cashier of the then " Barnstable Bank," 
at Yarmouth Port, and continued in that position, as Cashier 
of that institution and its successor, the " First National 
Bank of Yarmouth," for nearly forty years. He was also 
the first Secretary and Treasurer of the Barnstable County 
Mutud Fire Insurance Co., incorporated in March, 1833, in 
which office he continued, to the time of his last sickness. 
He was a prolific and able writer for the newspapers and 
other periodicals, being particularly well versed in local 
history, agriculture and horticulture. He was for half a 
century a leading and constant member of the Masonic 
fraternity, and liberally contributed his pen and his personal 
means, to aid educational and social improvements. 

May 25, 1876, Capt. Franklin Hallet died in Liverpool, 
England, aged 69. He had commanded several fine ships 
from Boston, one of them a packet steamer to Liverpool. 
Upon the abandonment of the line in which he was engaged, 
he became the Agent of the Boston Underwriters in Liver- 
pool, a responsible and important position, which he filled 
for some eight years. July 18, one of those destructive fires 
so frequent of late, spread over several hundred of acres of 
wood land, destroyed in its path much standing and manu- 
tactured wood, and several out-buildings of citizens living on 
the borders of the wood lots. 

June 22, 1877, Capt. Thacher Taylor died, very suddenly, 
of apoplexy, aged 79. Capt. Taylor was at one time quite 
extensively engaged in the fishing business at Central wh arf 
with Capt. John Hawes, under the firm name, Hawes & 
Taylor. He was three years town Clerk and Treasurer, and 
twenty-five years Selectmen and Assessor. Dec. 26, George 
Myrick, a native of Yarmouth, died in Boston, aged 42. 
He was in active service during the Rebellion, performing 
;va]lant and valuable service on the staff of Gen. Foster, 



REBELLION TO OUR TIMES. 215 

He was engaged in mercantile business, as a member of the 
extensive firm of Hitchcock, Myrick & Co., for several years 
preceding his decease. 

The obituary list for 1878, contains the names of Capt. 
Edward Hallet, March 18, an old packet master, aged 79 
years ; also Capt. Winthrop S. Baker, at Brockton, April 28 ; 
Willard Sears, at New Bedford, June 3, aged 84 ; Capt. 
Oliver Gorham, Nov. 15, aged 63. The station house of the 
Old Colony Railroad, in Yarmouth Port, was burnt Nov. 17, 
and another was soon after commenced. 

The deaths of natives of the town, for 1879, comprised 
Mr. Sylvester Baker, merchant, March 7, aged 49 ; Albert 
G. Hills, of Boston, journalist, June 14 ; and Capt. Benjamin 
Taylor, Aug. 28, aged 72. 

In June, 1880, Heman B. Chase, Esq., died, in West 
Yarmouth. He had represented the town two terms in the 
Legislature, and was active in public affairs. Village Hall, 
at the Port, was destroyed by fire, Dec. 22. 

In Jan. 188 r, Wm. Haffards departed this life. He was, 
during the rebellion, a pilot in the U. vS. navy, and rendered 
invaluable service to the cause. Apr. 7, Elisha Jenkins, 
aged 81. He was born in Barnstable, but for many years 
resided in South Yarmouth, and twice represented the town 
in the Legislature. John Larkin died May 3. For many 
years Postmaster, he also faithfully filled manv private trusts. 

1882, March 31, Capt. Samuel Matthews died, aged 80 
years 6 months. He was two years a Representative, 
several years a Selectman, and was greatly trusted and 
universally respected. 

1883, Jan. 21, Capt. Oliver Matthews died, aged 72. He 
had been an invalid for years, but was a bright, energetic 
and most estimable man in his day of usefulness and activity. 
March 7, Capt. Winthrop Sears died, aged 65. He was an 
enterprising and capable ship-master, for several years a 
Selectman, Director of the First National Bank of Yar- 



2i6 OLD YARMOUTH. 

mouth, and filled other important stations in private business 
enterprises. Hon. James B. Crocker died May 28, at the 
age of nearly 79 years. Born in Barnstable, and an energet- 
ic shipmaster at an early age, he came to this town about 
the year 1841. He represented the town in the Legislature, 
one year; in 1853 and 1854, was a Senator from this 
District, and from 1864 to 187^), was Clerk of the Courts for 
Barnstable County. He was also a Trial Justice and a 
Director of the First National Bank of Yarmouth, at the 
time of his decease. June 21, Dea. Gorham Eldridge died, 
aged 88. Sept. 16, Eliakim Studley aged 81 years 11 
months ; a farmer, for some time Selectman. 

Capt. Edmund B. Hamblin, while these sheets were passing 
through the press, i. e.. May 12, 1884, was suddenly removed 
from this life, at the age of 61 years. He was the son of 
Col. Joshua Hamblin, a military officer of some distinction 
in the early portion of this century. Capt. Edmund 
commanded several ships, and after his retirement from the 
sea engaged in agricultural pursuits. This family is derived 
from James Hamblin, who came from London, and was in 
Barnstable in 1639, — one of the congregation of Rev. John 
Lothrop, His grandson, Joseph, married Elizabeth 
Matthews, of Yarmouth, about the year 1725, removed to 
this town, and died in 1777, aged 75 years. He was the first 
of the numerous and respectable family in this town. 



In one sense out of the usual order of events, — because the 
date and time of his departure is hidden from those on earth, — 
we record here the departure of Capt. Asa Eldridge, one of the 
most gallant sailors Cape Cod has contributed to that noble 
fraternity. He was born in this town, July 25, 1809, the son 
of Capt. John, a citizen of repute and renown. He took 




Capt, Asa Eldridge. 
born 1809-died 1856, 



REBELLION TO OUR TIMES. 217 

early to the sea, like all Cape Cod boys, commanded some 
fine ships, sailing for years in the " Dramatic line," 
controlled by E. K. Collins, a Truro man of pluck and vigor. 
Cornelius Vanderbilt, discov^ering his ability, induced him to 
enter his service. He commanded the " North Star," on 
the famous excursion to Europe, with Mr. Vanderbilt and 
family, which voyage was commemorated by Rev. Dr. 
Chowles, in a volume of great interest, in which he paid an 
appropriate tribute to the gallantry and skill of Capt. 
Eldridge. Capt. Eldridge possessed, not only self-confidence 
and daring, but skill and endurance, and the generous traits 
which are in imagination connected with the character of the 
true-born, American sailor. Jan. 25, 1856, after a voyage 
across the Atlantic, in which he successfully competed with 
a Cunard line steamer, he sailed in the steamer Pacific, from 
Liverpool, England, on a return trip to New York. He was 
never heard from more. It was a year of most unprecedent- 
ed disaster to vessels ; many were foundered, or went down 
in the gales ; the best nautical opinion is to the effect that 
the Pacific struck an iceberg, and that all on board met an 
instant death. 



CHAPTER XX. 
THE MAILS, TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE. 

Early Transportation of Letters — First Post Office — Further Post Office Facilities — 
The Telegraph and Telephone. 

IT is difficult for the present generation, who enjoy the 
advantages of postal communication with other places 
twice daily, and the telegraph whenever its use is needed, to 
appreciate the condition of our fathers, less than a century 
ago. At that time private enterprise and a chance traveller 
were the sole dependence of the people, for transmitting 
letters and intelligence ; the packets which plied between 
here and Boston, and the pockets of private citizens, being 
called into requisition for the purpose. 

The first Post office in Yarmouth, was established in Oct., 
1794. The mail was carried on horseback, and was sent and 
received once each week. Thomas Thacher v/as the first 
Post Master. John Thacher contracted to carry the mail 
for ^i.oo per day, between here and Boston, which was 
regarded by some of the reformers of the time, as an 
evidence of the extravagance of the administration. There 
was no Post office below Yarmouth. 

During the war of 18 12-15, the mails were brought twice 
each week ; about 1820, three times a week. 

In the fall of 1854, soon after the opening of the Railroad, 
the mail was sent twice a day. 



MAILS, TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE. 219 

The Register of July 6, 1837, contained the following 
announcement : 

"The Mails. — We now receive a daily mail from Boston, 
v/hich will enable us to furnish our readers with the latest 
intelligence." 

There is^ before the writer, the following original order 
from the Post Office Department, drawn on the Post 
Master of Yarmouth, in favor of the contractor : 

General Post Office, 
Philadelphia, Nov. ^th, 1795. 
Sir, 

Please to pay to John Thacher or order. Twenty-six Dollars, 
and return his receipt thereof to this office. 

Chas. Burrall, 
26 D. C. Asst. P. M. G. 

Thomas TJiacIier, Esqr., 
Post-Master at Yarmouth. 

This is endorsed on the back, " First draft from the Gen'l 
P. O. for ^26.00," showing this sum to be the total receipts 
of the office for the year. Letters were sent but seldom, 
and not more than three or four persons in town subscribed 
for a weekly newspaper. 

Closely connected with the transmission of intelligence 
by the mails, is that of communicating by the magnetic tele- 
graph. In the fall of 1855, two lines were constructed to 
the Cape. The office in this town, of the first one opened, 
was in the Register building, and was just in time to 
chronicle a great event, as will be seen by the following 
reproduction of head lines, in the issue of that journal, of 
Sept. 28, 1855 : 

" Telegraph Here I " 

" Great Battle at Sebastapol t " 

" Success of the Allies 1 " 

" Sebastapol Fallen ! " 



220 OLD YARMOUTH. 

The public were rather skeptical as to this news, but the 
daily newspapers confirmed it. The next step in the trans- 
mission of intelligence, was the telephone, which was opened 
here during the year 1883. What further progress has the 
future in store for us ? Already, the conception of Puck has 
been realized : 

" I'll put a girdle round the earth, 
In forty minutes ;" 

and the people of Yarmouth can speak to those of London 
and Paris, easier than they could communicate with 
Sandwich and Provincetown, in "the olden time." 



CHAPTER XXI. 
EDUCATION. 

Common School System not of English Origin — Parental Education the Earliest System 
— Action of the Colony Court— The Cape Cod Fisheries the Earliest Educational 
Fund — Advanced School Established — Mutual Improvement and Lecture Funds — 
Town Libraries, etc., — College Graduates. 

The common school system was not one of the institutions 
transplanted by our forefathers from the mother countr)-, 
but grew out of the necessities of their position, and was the 
result of their foresight and providence, for the welfare of 
their descendants. The practice of family education was 
brought by them from the old world, and was adhered to 
with conscientious fidelity, until their growth in population 
enabled them to found schools, for the general education of 
the youth of the colony. Many of the first settlers were 
men of considerable acquirements, able to educate their 
children in the scholarship of the times. William Bradford, 
the second, Josias Winslow, Thomas Southworth and 
Thomas Cushman, were reared under parental education, 
and were men of more than common attainments, and of 
eminence in the colony. Edmund Hawes, Anthony Thach- 
er, Andrew Hallet, senior, and others of the first settlers of 
this town, were men of good acquirements ; and, with the 
first ministers, kept up the standard of education, better 
than it was reasonable to expect, in a community, engrossed 
in the absorbing pursuits of founding homes on a primeval 
soil, and warring with savage nature, and still more savage 



22 2 OLD YA RMO UTH. 

man. It was not until some years had elapseci, that any 
movement towards general education was made. In 1663, 
"it was proposed by the court unto the several townships in 
this jurisdiction, as a thing that they o'ight to take into 
their serious consideration, that some course may be taken 
th.at in every town there may be a schoolmaster set up to 
train up our children to reading and writing." No action 
seems to have been taken under this proposition, and in 
1670, the court made a grant "of all such profits as might, 
or should annually accrue to the colony, from time to time, 
for fishing with seines at Cape Cod, for mackerel, bass or 
herrings, to be improved for, and towards, a free school in 
some town in this jurisdiction, provided a beginning were 
made within one year of the grant." The beginning was 
made at Plymouth, which town, also, as well as some of its 
inhabitants, contributed to its maintenance; and in 1673, 
the court renewed its grant, and appointed Mr. Thomas 
Hinckley as steward of the fund raised, or to be raised, for 
this purpose. This grant was not permanent, as appears 
from the fact, that in 1678, a part of the fund was granted to 
another party, and five pounds for the schoolmaster at 
Rehoboth. From this time to 1683, portions of this fishery 
fund were assigned to various towns, to aid in the support of 
schools, Barnstable being one of the beneficiaries in the 
latter named year. In all this time private instruction had 
been provided, in this, as in the other towns. Mr. John 
Miller, son of the second minister, was for many years, the 
schoolmaster of the town, his house standing on the site of 
the present High School building. 

The earliest recognition of the common school system, by 
the town, was in the year 1693, when, as has before been 
stated, a committee was "appointed to agree with some fit 
person to teach school," which was to be taught in " squad- 
rons," covering all parts of the town. From that time to 
th^s, with some few interruptions, the records bear witness 



EDUCATION. 



■^5 



to the importance attached to the education of the young of 
the town, by our forefathers and their descendants, as is set 
forth in the votes, found recorded in their proper dates. 

We have an interesting glimpse of the schools, as they 
existed more than a century ago, in an account written by 
the late Deacon Joseph Hawes, himself for many years a 
successful teacher of youths. The narrative proceeds : 

"This question has become general, and it ought to be so, 
as it is generally allowed, that the future welfare and happi- 
ness of our country, under God, depends much thereon. 
The writer, who is now in the 79th year of his age, [in 1839,] 
makes no pretension to scholarship. 

" The little learning I have gained. 
Was most from simple nature drained ; " 

or, otherwise, I was self-taught, having, in childhood, been 
left destitute of parents, and nearly without property, and 
with but a very few near relations. I commenced my 
education as follows : — I went often to the woods and 
gathered pine knots, and split them fine for candles, and in 
the evenings learned the multiplication table. 

" I propose here to give a history of our schools as they 
were just before and after the Revolution. In the town of 
Yarmouth, there were three or four school-houses, and a 
teacher was generally engaged, who had a liberal education, 
and taught alternately, six or eight weeks in each district 
He was generally placed in a great chair, at a large table 
before a large fire-place. As the largest scholars entered 
the school, they would place a sheet of paper, or half a sheet 
and a quill, on the table. When the master entered every 
scholar must make a bow. The master would make a short 
prayer, (this was then held sacred by the good old women.) 
The Bible class was then called out to read one chapter, 
standing in a half circle behind the master. He would 
meantime be employed making pens, &c., while each scholar 
would mention the number and read one verse, while some 



224 OLD YARMOUTH. 

might be playing pins, and others matching coppers. Then 
the Psalter class read in the same manner; I know of no 
other books then in schools. Saturdays, all the scholars 
formed a circle and said their Catechism. When the Spell- 
ing Book was first introduced, the good old ladies appeared 
to fear that religion would be banished from the world. 
The master would be writing copies, setting sums, making 
and mendmg pens, &c., while nearly all the scholars would 
be playing or idle. The most forward in Arithmetic might 
do one or two sums in a day, if they could do them without 
the master's assistance ; — he gave me one sum in the Single 
Rule of Three, which I could not resolve for two or three 
days ; after requesting him a number of times to inform me, 
he would reply he had no time, and I must study for the 
answer. At this time, I lived with my aged grandfather, 
who had a liberal education, but in low circumstances. I 
could learn more in his corner with my pine candle, in one 
evening, than I could at school in a week. The usual disci- 
pline for crime or disobedience, was whipping with an apple 
tree branch, with the scholar's jacket off, while one part of 
the school would be nearly in tears and the other part 
laughing ; and as soon as the master retired from school, 
every instrument of correction or torture, would by the 
scholars be destroyed. I continued my studies with my 
pine candle in the corner, till about 17 years of age, and 
advanced in Arithmetic about as far as Square and Cube 
Roots ; and had, by my own industry, gained some knowl- 
edge of Navigation. Then commenced the Revolution, in 
which I was nearly three years in the land service, and the 
remainder of the Revolution I followed the sea ; and sailed in 
five vessels which fell into the hands of the enemy ; but was 
never a prisoner more than about two months at one time. 
At the close of the Revolution, I commenced teaching a town 
school in Yarmouth, at seven dollars per month, and boarded 
myself, which was then about equal to seamen's wages in 



EDUCATION. 225 

Boston ; and I occasionally taught town and private schools 
in Barnstable and Yarmouth, when not at sea. The highest 
wages I ever had was thirty-five dollars per month ; and the 
last school I taught was in Barnstable, and was then in my 
60th year." 

"Now I will state my own method of school teachi'ig with 
from si.xty to ninety scholars, viz : I generally meant to be 
at the school-house by half past eight in the morning, and 
generally last to leave the old school-house. The first and 
last hours were generally spent in reading, the middle hours 
in writing. Those in arithmetic would read with the others 
when they pleased. Having only one class in school, every 
scholar, at my word 'Next,' would arise and read in his seat, 
till I pronounced the word ' Next,' and I often stopped him 
in the middle of a verse. After reading around, I would 
order another book, more proper for the scholars present, 
as before, and thus in four or five different books till the 
hour expired. Then I gave out the copies, and made as 
many mend their pens as could. If they had no ink-stands, 
which was the case with many, I would send one after shells, 
and put cotton therein.' The ink I found and charged it to 
the school. I likewise set at auction who would make the 
fire cheapest, say for one month, which would go at about 
one cent a day. While they were writing in the second 
form, I would hear the little ones read alone, who could not 
read in classes. Seventeen was the greatest number I think 
I ever had of them. When school was about half done, one 
scholar was sent for a bucket of water. The females were 
allowed to go out all at one time, but not drink till they 
came in, which would be in about five minutes. Then the 
males went out, and were allowed to drink when they came 
in. Then the water was emptied out of the pail, and if any 
scholar went out more than one time, they had to stay in 
and sweep out the school-house, after school was done. 
Those in Arithmetic having books of different authors, got 



226 OLD YARMOUTH. 

their own sums, wrote off their own rules, &c. If they 
wanted to make inquiries concerning questions, I would 
direct them to stand up and read the question, and if the 
scholar next him could show him, I would request him to ; 
if not, if I had time, I would explain to him the principles 
by which the sum was to be done. If he then met with diffi- 
culty, I directed him to take it home, and study late at night 
to have his answer in the morning. When I dismissed the 
school I would examine each one's writing book. This 
separated them just about fast enough. I was too much in 
favor of the Friends' principles to require any bowing, and 
left that discretionary with each scholar." 

Early in the century as has been seen, an effort was made 
here to establish a seminary of learning for the County; 
but the coveted boon was secured by Sandwich. Still later, 
about 1808-9 funds were raised and a building erected for an 
academy, for the training of the youth of the town, in the 
higher branches of education ; and this school, and its 
successor, the Yarmouth academy — located on the site of 
the present school buildings, and also, by a coincidence, the 
site of the house of the earliest school-master, in town, Mr. 
John Miller — continued to exist until the town schools on 
the North side were consolidated, and graded courses estab- 
lished, to meet the wants of all classes of the people. The 
bequest of the late Joshua Sears, for the purposes of 
establishing a Nautical school, is used to teach all such 
branches in the higher mathematics as are required and 
employed to make computations ; and the educational 
advantages now afforded the children of the town, in place 
of the rudimental branches taught by Dea. Hawes, shows 
the developement since the last century, of our common 
school system — a system, not the product of English educa- 
tion, but evolved by our fathers, out of their own experiences 
and the wants of their dailv life. 

Public Libraries, and books of literary pretension were not, 



EDUCATION. 227 

until ver}' recent years, indulged in, even by the people of 
means in many of our New England villages. Yet we have a 
record of one established in Yarmouth, as early as the year 
1808, called the Union Library. Its collection would now 
be smiled at, both on account of its size, and also the incon- 
gruity of the topics of which the works treat. " Pilgrim's 
Progress" and "Don Quixote ;" the "Vicar of Wakefield" 
and " Benjamin's Holy War," " Davies' Sermons " and 
" Sorrows of Werther," were among the titles of this 
curiously assorted collection. This library existed about ten 
years, and sowed the seeds of knowledge and a love of infor- 
mation, which continued to increase and expand. Several 
other efforts were made in the same direction, but with vary- 
ing success, until in 1866, a concerted attempt was made, 
with such success that it promises to be one of the perma- 
nent institutions of the town. The first officers were : 
Charles F. Swift, President ; Rev. Joseph B. Clark, Vice- 
President ; and among its early directors were Isaac Myrick, 
Jr., Wm. P. Davis, Dr. George Shove, Rev. Nathaniel 
Cogswell, Frederick Dimbar, James Knowles, Solomon 
Taylor, David G. Eldridge, Rev. John P. Perry, and Rev. V. 
Lincoln. Isaac Thacher, Esq., a prominent merchant of 
Boston, contributed the sum of $1000, and Rev. Mr. Cogs- 
well, Henry C. Thacher, Esq., and other prominent citizens 
gave money, books or building lots for the use of the society. 
In December, 1870, Mr. Nathan Matthews, also a native of 
the town, conveyed an offer to erect a suitable building, 
provided it could be enjoyed by all the people of the town, 
on equal terms. This liberal offer was accepted, and now 
exists in the form of the neat and convenient building so 
highly prized by our citizens. The association was then, as 
before stated, re-organized, to meet the new conditions 
which existed, and something like 2500 volumes, many of 
them books of permanent value, have been placed upon the 
library shelves. In Jan., 1883, Mr. Isaac Thacher dying, he 



228 OLD YARMOUTH. 

left, by will, $5000 more, which places the institution on a 
safe and permanent basis. The library, at the time of writ- 
ing this sketch, is governed by a self-perpetuating board of 
Trustees, of which Azariah Eldridge, D. D., is President — 
who has also been a liberal donor to its funds ; and among 
its latter managers should be mentioned Rev. J. W. Dodge, 
Rev. Wm. H. May hew, Thomas Matthews, Edmund B. 
Hamblin, Samuel Matthews, and Dr. Thomas B. Pulsifer. 
The late Amos Otis bequeathed a valuable collection of 
historical works, together with a safe and money to provide 
for their preservation. 

Energetic a'-'d successful efforts have been made in the 
other villages of the town, in the direction of founding pub- 
lic libraries ; and, although their collection of books is smaller 
than that on the North side of Yarmouth, a good beginning, 
with promise of important results, has already been made. 

A taste for literary improvement and the discussion of 
topics of public concern, of an educational nature, was, 
early in this century, developed here. Rev. Messrs. Alden 
and Cogswell, Hon. John Reed and Dr. Calvin Tilden, — 
not always contemporaries, however, — did much to 
encourage such enterprises. In 1829, a Society for 
Iviprc7'ciuei!t in Useful Knozvledge was formed, and with 
slight interruption, under different names, has existed ever 
since. The society known as the Yannonth Institute, has 
had a continuous existence ever since Dec. 12, 1843. 

It may be interesting to know how many of the native 
citizens of this town have enjoyed the advantages of collegi- 
ate or university education, and some attempt has been 
made to collect the names of such persons, the result of 
Avhich — its entire completeness not being assured — is as 
follows. The college from which they are supposed to have 
graduated is also indicated, by H. for Harvard ; Y. for Yale ; 
D. for Dartmouth, and Ag. for Agricultural : 



EDUCATION. 229 

Reverend Barnabas Taylor, H. 

John Sturgis, j Sons of 

Samuel Sturgis, ) Esquire Sturgis, H. 

Prince Hawes, H. 

Barnabas Hedge, H. 

Rev. Samuel West, D. D., H. 

Hon. George Thacher, H. 

Timothy Alden, Jr., H. 

Isaiah Alden, H. 

Martin Alden, H. 

David Thacher, Jr., H. 

Joseph Eldridge, D. D., Y. 

AzARiAH Eldridge, D. D., Y. 

Hon. J. B. D. Cogswell, D. 

J. Montgomery Sears, Y. 

Chas. F. S. Knowles, H. 

Arthur Taylor. H. 

Alfred Taylor, Ag'l. 

Thomas C. Thacher, H. 
Rev. Barnabas Taylor, above mentioned, received a call 
as minister for the East Parish in this town, in 1724. He 
declined, and afterwards settled in Bristol, R. I. John and 
Samuel Sturgis were described by Alden, in his *' Mem. of 
YarvioHth,'' as " the sons of Esquire Sturgis, an eminent 
merchant." They are not known to have adopted a profes- 
sion. Rev. Joseph Eldridge, D. D., son of Capt. Joseph, 
was for many years settled in Norfolk, Conn., a gentleman 
of great influence, and enjoying public confidence in a large 
degree. He was born in this town, July 8, 1804, and died 
March 31, 1875. His brother, Dr. Azariah, after residing 
abroad several years, now fills a large measure of usefulness 
in the County of his birth. Hon. J. B. D. Cogswell is also 
remembered for his public services. Several other persons 
embraced in this list, have been noticed elsewhere. ^ 

Rev. Timothy Alden, Jr., the son of the old pastor, has 
been frequently quoted in the foregoing pages, particularly 

' It was no part of the purpose of this book to mention living personages, except as is 
necessary to illustrate the narrative, and the author has attempted to adhere to this rule 
throughout 



230 OLD YARMOUTH. 

his short but valuable sketch of Yarmouth, written nearly 
a century ago, and his " Collection of American Epitaphs,'' a 
work abounding in historical knowledge of high value. Of 
the sons of his brother Martin, of whom there were several, 
Albert settled in Barre, represented Worcester County 
in the Senate, was in the Boston Custom House for a 
number of years, and died in Cambridge, 1882, Timothy, 
the younger son, was the inventor of a machine for type 
setting, which was regarded by competent judges, as a mar- 
vel of ingenuity. But his death occurred before the full 
development of his plan, and no one, since then, has been 
found to master the details, although devices for that 
purpose are used on the London Times, and in other print- 
ing establishments. Capt. Frederick Howes, son of Capt. 
Ebenezer, born July 4, 1812, died June 26, 1882, was not 
only a shipmaster of skill and success, but an inventor of a 
rig for reefing topsail yards, on sailing vessels, which was 
almost universally adopted, adding much to the safety and 
ease of the mariner's vocation. These inventions, and that 
of Capt. John Sears, Hattil Kelley and others, of machinery 
and other appliances for manufacturing salt from sea water, 
will effectually refute the aspersion sometimes cast 
upon them, that the people here have no inventive ability or 
skill in the arts and sciences. We may, properly, in this 
connection, mention the death of Capt. Eben Howes, 
brother of Frederick, which occurred in Boston, Nov. 1883, 
at the age of jG. He was the Boston Inspector of the 
French Lloyds, and a prominent officer of the Marine 
Society. His brother mariner, Capt. George Matthews, 
died in March, 1882 — a commander of skill and ability, and 
a man of personal integrity. 

In laying down the pen devoted to this portion of Old 
Yarmouth, and reviewing scenes and generations past, we 
find two organizations of the fathers, remaining in unbroken 
succession — the old First Church, and the system of 



EDUCATION. 231 

common schools — the one established immediately upon 
the settlement, and the other not long after. The present 
pastor of the church, — the thirteenth who has filled that 
relation — Rev. John W. Dodge, was settled here in 1868, 
Rev. Dr. A. H. Quint preaching the installing sermon. This 
organization has suffered many divisions — has seen 
branches growing out from it, extending into other villages ; 
but its essential unity has been preserved, and its growth 
has extended with the years, during the nearly two and a half 
centuries of its existence. The schools of learning, for the 
instruction of the children of the people, have been devel- 
oped with the times, since the Cape fisheries were taxed for 
their support. These institutions have moulded the character 
of the people, who have made a record in the generations 
which have passed, of which every one connected with them 
may justly feel an honest pride. 



APPENDIX. 



A FEW matters which found no appropriate place in the 
foregoing narrative, are here added, as possessing 
interest to the people of Yarmouth. 

SLAVERY. 
It is well known that the institution of African Slavery 
existed here, in a mild and patriarchal form, in the earlier 
years of the town and colony. The following interesting 
document — being a bill of sale of an interest in a slave — 
has been preserved by the ancestors of Mr. Isaiah Homer, 
which is the only one of this nature which the author has 
met in his investigations : 

"Boston, Feb. the 20, 1776. 
"Received of my father, Benj'n Homer, of Yarmouth, 
forty pounds and interest, in amount, settled in full for two- 
thirds of a negro man named Forten, which I delivered him 
some time ago, which [I] warrant and defend against all 
claims and demands of all and every person or persons what- 
soever, to whom it may concern. 
" Signed, sealed and delivered 
in presence of us, as 
witnesses, 

"PeLEG EwELL, F. W. homer." [Seal] 

"Jno. Homes, Jr." 

"Forten" lived to see his race declared free by the 
Courts, and, with his wife, "Thankful," occupied an humble 
hut on the Eastern borders of Dennis Pond, to a good old 
age. They have descendants in this town. 



THE ''MORNING STAR." 233 

MISSIONARY WORK BY YARMOUTH CAPTAINS. 

It has fallen to the lot of three Yarmouth Captains, viz : 
Nathaniel Matthews, Wm. B. Hallet, and Isaiah Bray, to 
command a vessel sent some years ago, by the American 
Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, to aid their 
work among the South Sea Islands. They were in charge 
of the brig Morning Star, built and equipped especially for 
this work, which was wrecked Feb. 22, 18S4, on an unknown 
ledge near Kuaie, while in command of Capt. Garland, in the 
temporary absence of Capt. Bray. 

Another vessel, a steamer, bearing the same name, and 
designed for the same purpose, was launched at Bath, Me., 
August 6, 1884, to be commanded by Capt. Bray. She is 
described as follows: Her length is 131 feet, 3 inches, 
breadth 29 feet, 9 inches, depth 12 feet 2 inches, gross ton- 
nage 471. The Morning Star \s built of the best material, 
in the strongest manner, has three masts, is barkentine 
rigged. The mainmast is iron and will be used for a smoke- 
stack. She has a side windlass, a compound engine of 150 
horse power, intended for use only in. emergencies and for 
making landings, etc., will steam 7 knots and has accommo- 
dation for 75 passengers. The figure-head is a female figure, 
representing a missionary holding an open bible in the left 
hand, and pointing to the same with the index finger of the 
right. On the stern is a large silver star, with golden rays, 
above which is "■Morning Star," and below, "Boston, Mass," 
The steamer is owned by the American board of commis- 
sioners for foreign missions and was expected to be ready for 
use Sept. 20, and will sail from Boston with a cargo for 
Honolulu, The cost is rising ^40,000, much of the amount 
coming from Sunday school contributions, 25 cents entitling 
each child to a certificate of stock. Capt. Isaiah Bray, for 
six years in the employ of the board, will command. The 
work of the missionary board is among the South Sea 



234 OLD YARMOUTH. 

Islands. The steamer's yearly voyage will average 32,000 
miles, and it is estimated she will do one-third more work 
than a sailing vessel. Supplies are brought from San Fran- 
cisco. The intimate connection of Yarmouth men with 
this enterprise, will give interest to this description to the 
people of this town, 

STATE, COUNTY AND DISTRICT OFFICERS. 

The following citizens of Yarmouth have held State, 
County and District offices, viz : ' 

John Thacher, Assistant in Plymouth Colony, 1691. 
Councillor, Province of Mass. Bay, 1692-1717. 

Peter Thacher, Judge Court C. P., 1729. 

Shubael Baxter, Judge, C. C. P., 1729. 

John Thacher, Judge, C. C. P., 1736. 

Richard Baxter, Judge C. C. P., 1775. 

Enoch Hallet, High Sheriff, 1775— 1788. 

David Thacher, Senator, 1797-1798. Delegate to Conven- 
tions to ratify National and form State Constitutions. Judge 
C. C. P. 

Thomas Thacher, Judge C. C. P., 1804.' 

Jonathan Howes, member of convention to ratify the 
national constitution. 

John Reed, Member of Congress, from 1813 to 1817, from 
1822 to 1842. Member of Constitutional Convention, 1820. 
Lieutenant Governor, from 1844 to 185 1. 

Elisha Doane, member of Constitutional Convention, 1820. 
County Commissioner, 1829. 

Nathaniel Cogswell, member of Constitutional Conven- 
tion, 1853. 

David K. Akin, County Commissioner, 1851 — 1857. 

James B. Crocker, Senator, 1853, 1854. Clerk of Courts, 
1864-1876. 

» Those living in Dennis since the separation, will be included in the history of that town. 



STATE, COUNTY AND DISTRICT OFFICERS. 235 

Sylvester Baxter, Senator, 1855, 1856.' 

Charles F. Swift, County Treasurer, 1852 to 1856. Regis- 
ter of Probate, 1858. Senator, 1857 -1858. Executive Coun- 
cillor, i860. Collector of Customs, 1861-1876, (with four 
months' interruption in 1866-7.) 

Charles Thacher, 2d, Register of Probate and Insolvency, 
1874 to 1881. 

John B. D. Cogswell, Senator ; also President of the 
Senate, 1877, 1878, 1879. 

Elisha Taylor. Special County Commissioner, 1862 to 1865. 

Joshua M. Howes, Special Co. Commissioner, from 1877 
to 1880. 

Freeman Howes, Special County Commissioner, 1880 to 
1884. 

In the table which follows, will be found a list of Depu- 
ties, Representatives, Selectmen, Clerks and Treasurers ; 
the dates indicate the the time of their first service ; some 
of them, not being continuously re-elected, but serving after- 
wards the number of years indicated, 

' In 1S56, Mr. Baxter removed to Hyannis, in the town of Barnstable. 



2^,6 



OLD YARMOUTH. 



1639. 

<( 

1 64 1. 
(( 

1642. 
1643. 

1644. 
1645. 
1652. 



1692. 

1693. 

1694. 

1695. 

1696. 
1 70 1. 

1703- 

1704. 

1705- 

1706. 
171 1. 

2713- 
I7I4. 
E7I5. 

17 1 8. 
1719. 
1721. 
1727. 
1728. 
1732. 

1739- 
1740. 
1741. 
1746. 
1748. 



DEPUTIES 

Yrs.i 
2.11653. 
2.11654. 



Thomas Payne, 
Philip Tabor, 

John Crowe, 2. 

Richard Hoar, 3. 

William Palmer, 6. 

Anthony Thacher, 10. 

Thomas Folland, 2. 

James Matthews, 2. 

Edmund Havves, 16. 

Wm. Lumpkin, i. 

John Joyce, i. 



1655- 
1658. 
1662. 
1663. 
1668. 
1671. 
1672. 
1677. 
1685. 



Thomas Howes, 
Sam'l Arnold, 
Wm. Nickerson, 
Edw. Sturgis, 
Richard Sears, 
Yelverton Crowe, 
John Thacher, 
John Miller, 
Thomas Howes, 
J ere. Howes, 
Silas Sears, 



REPRESENTATIVES. 



John Thacher, 
Jere. Howes, 
John Hallet, 
Thos. Sturgis, 
Jaspar Taylor, ■ 
John Haues, 
John Miller, 
Elisha Hall, 
Sam'l Howes, 
Sam'l Sturgis, 
Zach. Paddock, 
Peter Thacher, 
Joseph Hawes, 
John Paddock, 
Joseph Hall, 
Seth Taylor, 
John Hedge, 
Eben Hawes, 
Josiah Miller, 
Shubael Baxter, 
Sam'l Sturgis, 
Judah Thacher, 
Dan'l Hall, 
Thos. Hallett, 
Jno. Hallett, 
Jno. Miller, 
Jos. Thacher, 



Yrs 
2, 
2. 
I. 



175 i>. Joseph Hall, 

1757. Thomas Howes, 

1758. John Bearse, 
1760. John Bare, 
1764. David Thacher, 

1774. Elisha Bassett, 

1775. Enoch Hallett, 

1779. Jona. Howes, 

1780. Edm. Howes, 
1786. Atherton Hall, 
1799. David Thacher, Jr. 
1802. Elisha Doane, 
1806. David Kelley, 
1809. Jno. Eldridge, 

" Jas. Crowell, 

18 1 5. Thos. Hedge, 

1 8 16. Hy. Thacher, 
1820. John Reed, 
1827. Jos. Eldridge, 
182S. Jno. B. Doane, 

1830. Chas. Hallett. 

183 1. Isaiah Crowell, 
" Jos. White, 

1832. Jno. H. Dunbar, 

1833. David K. Akin, 

1834. Oliver Hallett, 
1836. Reuben Ryder, 



Yrs. 

9- 
2. 
I. 

5. 
I. 

3- 
9- 

IB- 
S' 

10, 

7. 

Yrs. 

3. 
I, 
I. 
I. 

27. 

3. 
2, 

3. 
2. 

3. 
3. 

4' 

2, 

6. 

16, 

2. 

4- 
I, 
I. 

3. 
2. 

3- 
I. 

3' 
3. 
2. 
I. 



STATE, COUNTY AND DISTRICT OFFICERS. 237 



1836. 


N. S. Simpkins, 




0- 


1852. 


Chas. Baker, 


2, 


u 


Ich. Sherman, 


I. 


1854. 


Sam'l Thacher, 


2. 


1837- 


Ezek. Crowell, 


2. 


1856. 


Zadok Crowell, 


I. 


1838. 


Freeman Taylor, 


2. 


[858. 


B. H. Matthews, 


2. 


1839. 


Sylv. Crowell^ 


I. 


1861. 


John K. Sears, 


2. 


IS42. 


Joseph Hale, 


I. 


1864. 


David G. Eldridge, 


2. 


1843. 


J. B. Crocker, 


I. 


1867. 


Heman B. Chase, 


2. 


1844. 


Elisha Jenkins, 


2. 


1871. 


John B. D. Cogswel 


I 3- 


1846. 


Sam'l Matthews, 


2. 


1876. 


Daniel Wing, 


2. 


1848. 


Ezek. Crowell, 


2. 


1880. 


Charles F. Swift, 


2. 




SELEC 


TME 


N. 








Yrs. 






Yrs. 


1665. 


Anthony '^I'hacher, 


2. 


1729. 


Peter Thacher, 


4- 


u 


Edmund Havves, 


23- 


(( 


Timothy Hallett, 


I. 


n 


Jas. Matthews, 


4- 


<( 


Jona. Baker, 


I, 


(< 


John Miller, 


28. 


1731- 


Jos. Basset, 


7. 


(( 


Joseph Hawes, 


2. 


1734- 


John Sears, 


2, 


1667. 


Edw. Sturgis, 


16. 


1737- 


Judah Thacher, 


5- 


<< 


Yelverton Crowe, 


I. 


(( 


Dan'l Hall, 


29. 


<( 


Sam'l Sturgis, 


I. 


1741 


Jno. Hallett, 


13- 


1668. 


Thos. Howes, 


8. 


1745 


Jno. Howes, 


6. 


<( 


Jno. Thacher, 


15- 


1747 


Jona Smith, 


I, 


1676. 


Jere. Howes, 


20. 


1750 


Jona Hallett, 


8. 


1683. 


Jos. Howes, 


5- 


<( 


Jos. Thacher, 


3- 


1684. 


John Hall, 


I. 


1753 


Isaac Chapman, 


3- 


1685. 


Silas Sears, 


10. 


1755 


Eben Taylor, / 


I. 


1693. 


Joseph Hall, Sr., 


2. 


1756 


Prince Hawes, 


II. 


11 


Josiah Thacher, 


10. 


<< 


Lot Howes, 


4- 


1695. 


Thomas Folland, 


4- 


1758 


Jno. Hedge, 


3- 


1697. 


Jno. Hallett, 


5- 


1760. 


Thomas Tobey, 


14- 


(( 


Thomas Sturgis, 


3- 


1767. 


Rd. Ba.xter, 


3- 


1699. 


Sam'l Sturgis, 


29. 


1769. 


Isaac Matthews, 


12. 


I70I. 


Joseph Hall, 


28. 


a 


David Thacher, 


13- 


1702. 


Peter Thacher, 


5- 


(t 


Sam'l Howes, 


I. 


1707. 


Jona. Howes, 


3- 


I77I. 


Seth Tobey, 


I a 


<( 


John Howes, 


8. 


1772. 


Dan'l Taylor, ^ 


4. 


(( 


Josiah Miller, 


15- 


(( 


Edw. Hall, 


L 


I7I8. 


Shubael Baxter, 


7- 


1776. 


John Hall, 


I, 


(( 


Seth Taylor, 


I. 


1777. 


Seth Crowell, 


I. 


(( 


Judah Paddock, 


4- 


1778. 


Jno. Chapman, 


2. 


1728. 


Eben Hall, 


13- 


(( 


Sam'l Eldridge, 


3. 



238 



OLD YARMOUTH. 



1781. 

1782. 
(( 

1786. 
(( 

1788. 

1789 
II 

1792, 

1795- 

1797. 
(( 

1801. 

1802, 

1806. 

1807. 

1808. 

1 810. 

1811. 

1816. 

(( 

1818, 



1639. 
1667. 
1695. 
1696. 
1697. 
1698. 
1 701. 
1702. 
1709. 
1715. 
1721. 
1729. 

1737- 
1744. 
1748. 
1753- 
1759- 



Jere. HoweSi 10, 
Isaac Hallet, 

Josiah Hall, i 

Israel Nickerson, 3 

Athn. Hall, i 

Dan'l Crowell, 2 

Thos. Thacher. 15 

Peter Sears, i 

Thos. Howes, 2 

Matt. Gorham, 2 

Abner Taylor, 9 

Benj. Matthews, 13 

Chas. Hallett, 2 

Seth Baker, i 

Joseph Hawes, 2 

Elkanah Crowell, 9 

Tno. Eldridge, 8 

Eben. Gage, ^ 3. 

Howes Taylor, 5. 

Prince Matthews, 10 

Seth Kelley, 2 

Eben. Bray, 7 



/818. Gorham Crowell, 

1 821. Bars. Thacher, 

1822. Samuel Thacher, 
1825. James Matthews, 
1830. Wm. Green, 
1834. Ich. Sherman, 
1844. Elisha Taylor, '' 
1848. Sam'l Matthews, 
1851. Silas Baker, ^ 

" Thacher Taylor, 

1855. Eliakim Studley, 

1856. Watson Thacher, 
1 86 1. Zadok Crowell, 
1865. Brad. Matthews, 
1873. Daniel Wing, 
1875. Stephen Wing, 

1877. Winthrop Sears, 

1878. Geo. H. Loring 
1880. Edward Lewis, 
1883. Chas. Basset, 

" Stephen Sears, 
" Thacher T. Hallet, 



TOWN TREASURERS. 



Anthony Thacher,' 28. 

Edm. Hawes, 28. 

John Howes, 3. 

Jno. Paddock, i. 

James Sturgis, i. 
Thomas Howes, Sr., i. 

Thomas Sturgis, i. 

Sam'l Sturgis, 11. 

Peter Thacher, 4. 

Josiah Miller, 12. 

Edw. Sturgis, 2. 

Joseph Hawes, 7. 

Judah Thacher, 12. 

Jno. Crowell, 3. 

Seth Hall, i. 

Thomas Tobe}^ 11. 

Jasher Taylor, •• 2. 



1765. Prince Hawes, 
1768. Sam'l Howes, 
1771. Dan'l Taylor, 
1776. Seth Tobey, 
1778. Josiah Thacher, 
1 78 1. Joseph Griffith, 
1784. Athn. Hall, 

1788. Jere. Howes, 

1789. Jno. Thacher, 
1805. James Hedge, 

1 8 10. Elisha Doane, 

181 1. Oliver Alden, 

1812. Isaiah Alden, 
1817. Joshua Hamblen, 
1829. Jno. B. Doane, 
1837. Simn. Crowell, 

1 841. Thacher Taylor, ^ 
1844. Wm. P. Davis, 



17. 
I. 

27. 

25- 

I. 
II. 

26. 

2. 

3. 

25. 

I. 

5- 

5- 

16. 

2. 

3- 
6. 

2. 

4- 
I. 
2. 
2. 



5- 
2. 

5- 
3- 
3- 
8. 

4- 

I. 

10. 

5. 
I. 

5. 
5. 
8. 
8. 
4. 
3. 
41. 



These incumbents were generally, also, Town Clerks. 



HISTORY OF DENNIS, 



SINCE THE SEPARATION. 



DENNIS. 



CHAPTER I. 

FROM THE SEPARATION TO THE WAR OF 
THE REBELLION. 

The East Parish — Rev. Mr. Dennis — Organization of the New Towti — Manufacture of 
Salt — Rev. Natlian Stone — Bass River Bridge — Tlie Commercial Distress — War 
of 1812 — Great Temperance Revival — Cranberry Culture — Great Gale of 1841 — 
Vaiious Local Occurrences. 

TH E separation of Dennis from the parent town, was not, as 
the result of the vote in the town meeting clearly reveals, 
in consequence of any disaffection or unfriendly sentiment 
on the part of one section towards the other. But having 
transacted so much, not only of their parish, but also of 
their secular business, by separate organizations, the 
power of municipal cohesion was loosened, and the two 
sections did not feel that dependence upon each other which, 
under other circumstances, would have bound them closely 
together. They parted as a matter of municipal convenience, 
and in a spirit of mutual respect and good-will. 

It would be futile to retrace the course of this narrative 
and go back to the early days of Old Yarmouth, for the 
purpose of properly apportioning the achievements and 
sacrifices of the earlier periods of the town's history between 
the two sections. These will be sufficientlj' revealed to the 
inquirer, if he recalls to mind the names of the Howeses, the 
Crowells, the Searses and the Halls, whose first domicile was 
within the boundaries of Dennis, though a liberal allowance of 



SEPARATION TO THE REBELLION. 241 

the descendants of each of these pioneer names may be 
found in both towns. 

For the purpose of bring-ing within the narrative appropri- 
ately belonging to Dennis, all which ought more properly to 
be embraced therein, the history of the East Precinct of 
Yarmouth has been very slightly considered in the foregoing 
pages, and will be comprised in the limits of this especial 
department. This precinct, which is now coincident with 
the town of Dennis, was set off in 1721. In 1716, referees 
mutually agreed upon by all parties in interest, decided to 
build but one meeting-house, but to allow those opposed to this 
course to draw off at the end of ten years and form a separ- 
ate precinct, and to then receive assistance from the town, 
in the erection of such house. But the pressure for extra 
accommodation became so great, that this contingency was 
anticipated, by six years. Two meeting-houses having been 
built, the Eastern parish invited Mr. Greenleaf, the pastor 
of the old church, to become their minister, not so much 
with the expectation of his acceptance, as a token of their 
confidence and esteem. Mr. Greenleaf concluded to remain 
where he was. Calls were extended to Rev. Mr. Deming, 
Rev. Samuel Dexter and Rev. Barnabas Taylor, but neither 
was accepted, and in 1725 Rev. Josiah Dennis commenced a 
fortunate ministry, although not installed until 1727. If 
useful service in his sphere of labor, and an abiding attach- 
ment to his memory among his people and their descendants 
for three or four generations, are any criterion of merit or of 
success, Mr. Dennis's career may be said to have been fortu- 
nate. After ministering to this people for thirty-eight years, 
his labors were closed by death, in 1763. His society had 
steadily increased during his connection with it, and shortly 
before his death, or in 1 761-2, the meeting-house had been 
enlarged and repaired, at an outlay 'of ;i^i004 06s. OQd., old 
tenor. 

Mr. Dennis was succeeded, in 1764, by Rev. Nathan 



242 OLD YARMOUTH. 

Stone, a call to settle having previously been extended to 
Rev. Josiah Crocker. Mr. Stone's ministry seems to have 
been equally fortunate with that of his predecessor, in per- 
manency and the confidence and affection of his people. 

The records of the East parish, equally with those of the 
West, bear witness to the patriotism of the people during the 
Revolutionary war, and the alacrity and zeal which they 
unfalteringly displayed in behalf of the common cause.' 

As before stated, the act incorporating the Town of Den- 
nis, passed June 19, 1793. Pursuant to the provisions of 
this act, a warrant, issued by Atherton Hall, Esq., was 
directed to Jeremiah Howes, who, on the 2d of March, 1794, 
convened a meeting of the legal voters for the organization 
of the new town. Lt. Jeremiah Howes was chosen modera- 
tor ; Mr. Elisha Basset, Clerk and Treasurer ; Lt. Howes, 
Mr. Jonathan Bangs, and Lt. Joseph Sears, Selectmen ; with 
the otlier usual town officers. On the nth of March, Capt. 
Isaiah Hall and Mr. Elisha Basset were chosen a committee 
to settle with the Treasurer of the town of Yarmouth. The 
bounds between the two towns were settled by agents ap- 
pointed for the purpose, viz : Thomas Thacher, Isaac Mat- 
thews, Edmund Bray and Joseph Howes, on the part of Yar- 
mouth, and Jeremiah Howes, Jonathan Bangs and Joseph 
Sears on the part of Dennis. June 16, the bounds between 
Dennis and Harwich were renewed and established by the 
selectmen of the two towns. 

By the act of incorporation, it was provided that "the 
privilege of fishing, together with the Indian lands at Bass 
River and the Whaling Land at Black Earth, shall remain for 
the benefit of both towns." The Indian lands were quite 
extensive, and comprised an eligible location on the western 
side of Bass River. 

In 1795, the town approved of Browning Kelley maintain- 

■ In the Revolutionary history of Old Yarmouth the proceedings of the parishes, as well 
as of the town, are set forth. 



SEPARATION TO THE REBELLION. 243 

ing a ferry over Bass River. By a vote of i to 10, the town 
negatived the proposition for calling a constitutional conven- 
tion. 

A meeting-house having been erected in the south part of 
the town, it was voted that Mr. Stone preach there a propor- 
tional time, which was decided to be every third Sunday ; 
Sursuit road to be the dividing line between the N. and S. 
parts of the parish. It was also voted to repair the meeting- 
house on the north side. 

In 1796, the town was divided into school districts. 

In 1797, a portion of the town's commons was laid out, 
also a burial place near the north meeting-house ; and a por- 
tion of the commons was, the next year, ordered to be sold. 
Rev. Mr. Stone was also assigned a garden-spot. 

In 1799, the town voted the sum of ^240 to defray the ex- 
penses of small-pox in the family of Joshua Crowell. 
MANUFACTURE OF SALT. 

The granting of letters patent this year, (1799) to Mr. 
John Sears, for the manufacture of salt by solar evaporation, 
after years of effort and experiment, renders this a conven- 
ient and suitable occasion to review the history of this once 
important industry. During the Revolutionary war, and 
afterwards, this prime necessary of life was scarce and high, 
and many attempts were made to manufacture it from sea 
water. But the salt obtained was impure, and but little 
progress was made in the business. Mr. Sears was the first 
person who was completely successful in procuring pure 
marine salt by the rays of the sun alone, without the aid of 
artificial heat. The Rev. Dr. James Freeman, in 1802, 
wrote a quite full account of Mr. Sears's -experiments, 
derived partly from data furnished by him. It appears that 
as early as 1776, "this ingenious seaman constructed a vat 
a hundred feet long and ten feet wide. Rafters were fixed 
over it, and shutters were contrived to move up and down, 
that the vat might be covered when it rained and exposed to 



244 OLD YARMOUTH. 

the heat of the sun in fair weather. By this simple invention 
the rain was excluded, the water in the vat was gradually 
exhaled, and at length, to his inexpressible joy, Capt. Sears 
perceived the salt beginning to crystallize. His works, 
however, were leaky, and he had such bad success in his 
operations the first year that he was unable to obtain more 
than eight bushels of salt. He was exposed besides to the 
ridicule of his neighbors, who scoffed at his invention, styling 
it Sears's Folly." 

" Capt. Sears persevered. The second year the works 
were made tight ; and thirty bushels of salt were obtained. 
In this and the third year the salt water was poured into the 
vat from buckets ; a tedious and painful operation." 

" In the fourth year a pump was introduced: it was 
worked by hand, which was still great labor. This method 
of conveying the salt water into the vat continued to be 
practised till the year 1785, when at the suggestion of Major 
Nathaniel Freeman of Harwich, who had seen at a distance 
a similar construction, Capt. Sears contrived a pump to be 
worked by the wind. By this lucky invention the labor was 
greatly abridged." 

" Covers to move on shives, that is, rollers or small wheels, 
such as are contained in the blocks of ships, were invented 
by Mr. Reuben Sears, a carpenter of Harwich, in 1793. 
These covers are shaped like the roof of a barn, or what is 
commonly styled a gable roof. The shive, which is placed 
under the cover, rolls over a narrow piece of plank fixed 
across the vat, and the motion is farther facilitated by shives 
moving on each side of the same slip of plank horizontally, 
the first mentioned shive moving perpendicularly. When 
the cover is drawn off, which can be done without a great 
exertion of strength, it rests on a frame placed by the side of 
the vat." 

"In 1798, Mr. Hattil Kelley of Dennis contrived another 
mode of constructing the vats and moving the covers. By 



SEPARATION TO THE REBELLION. 245 

Mr. Sears they are placed in a string, or direct line ; but by 
Mr. Kelley they are placed like the squares of a chess-board. 
Two black squares will represent the first and second vats. 
At the point where their angles touch is fixed a crane, 
consisting of a perpendicular beam, supporting a horizontal 
beam. From each half of the last beam is suspended a cover 
shaped like a hipped roof ; that is, a roof compoocd of four 
triangles, rising from each of the four sides, and meeting in 
a point at the top. The third vat will be represented by the 
white square, the angle of which touches it. At this point 
is fixed a second crane ; and so the vats and cranes are 
continued to any extent the proprietor chooses. By these 
cranes the covers are moved vvith great ease. It is a subject 
of dispute which is the best invention, Sears's or Kelley's : 
experience only can decide the point." 

"Capt. Sears was greatly assisted in the invention and 
improvement of the works by Capt. William Crowell, Capt. 
Christopher Crowell and Capt. Edward Sears of Dennis. 
These persons resigning to him their right and title to the 
invention, he applied to the national government for a patent, 
which he obtained in 1799. 

" Such is the account which Capt. Sears himself gives. It 
is alleged by several persons, that he has not made a new 
discovery, and consequently has no right to a patent. But 
whatever may be thought of Capt. Sears's merit as an inven- 
tor, there can be no dispute that he is entitled to applause 
for first introducing an important manufacture, by which he 
has contributed greatly to the prosperity of the village in 
which he resides, and to that of the county at large." 

Incidental to this industry the manufacture of the Glauber- 
salts, once greatly esteemed in medical practice, sprung up, 
and became quite an important adjunct of this business. This 
product was effected by boiling, and was considered of an 
excellent quality. 

The value and extent of the salt business was for many 



246 OLD YARMOUIH. 

years of great importance, to the County of Barnstable 
particularly. In 1801 there were 121,313 feet of works in 
the county, of which 50,430 were in Dennis and Yarmouth ; 
these works being calculated to manufacture about 44,000 
bushels of salt. The capital invested in the business, in the 
year 1808, was nearly half a million of dollars. In 1830, 
about 600,000 bushels were manufactured by this process in 
Massachusetts alone, and a still larger quantity in Maine. 
In 1832, the County of Barnstable had 1,425,000 feet of 
vats, producing 358,250 bushels, but in 1834 the business 
was checked in consequence of the reduction of the duty. 
The policy of the general government was not wholly 
consistent or friendly in its aspect towards this industry ; 
sometimes encouraging it by placing a high duty on imported 
salt, and at other times reducing the import to a low figure. 
The bounty offered by the State in the infancy of the 
business was afterwards withdrawn, the profits being found 
to be larger than that of other local industries. The develop- 
ment of the salt springs in New York and other places, also 
tended to make the business less important and profitable, 
and for the last twenty-five years no new works have been 
erected, those still existing at that time being kept up by 
repairs, and operated with moderate success ; but at the time 
of writing this narrative (1884) hardly any works are stand- 
ing as monuments of a once flourishing industry. 

In May, 1801, the town, before proceeding to ballot for 
Representative, voted that it should be done under this 
restriction : A committee was to be chosen to give the 
person elected instructions as to his public duties. It may 
seem strange that any one should be found willing to take 
the position under such circumstances, but a closely-con- 
tested election followed. Capt. Judah Paddock being the 
successful candidate. Mr. Seth Tobey d. Aug. 31, ae 85. 
The ancestor of the family was Thomas, of Sandwich, whose 



SEPARATION TO THE REBELLION. 247 

only son and heir married Mehitable, daughter of John Crow 
of Nobscusset. The family was a leading one in Yarmouth 
and Dennis. 

Very few contemporary writings are extant which give a 
complete view of the condition and character of the towns 
through the various generations of their people. Whatever 
we know of them we have had to derive from inference and 
the exceedingly meagre records of their public transactions. 
At the beginning of the century, however, the publica- 
tion of a Description of Dennis, "^ gives a comparatively 
comprehensive account of the then new town. The 
roads, which are particularly described, are pronounced 
"sandy and heavy," and the soil "light and sandy." 
The light land produced " not less than eight, and, with 
manure, frequently as much as twenty bushels of Indian 
corn on an acre ; and, on an average, eight or ten bushels of 
rye. The good land on the north part of the township 
yielded, with manure, about thirty bushels of Indian corn, 
but rye not in a greater quantity than the light land." Very 
little wheat was raised. Butter and vegetables for summer 
were produced, but not sufficient for winter use, except 
onions, of which they sent a quantity to market. The num- 
ber of inhabitants was set down at fourteen hundred ; " a 
great number of these," we are informed, " derive their 
subsistence from the sea ; and by the advantages which they 
enjoy, and their industry in improving them, are enabled to 
supply themselves with all the necessaries and many of the 
pleasures of life." The inhabitants occupied a hundred and 
eighty-eight dwelling-houses ; the greater part of which were 
" neat and in good repair," On the north of the county road 
were eighty-eight of the houses, thirty of which were two 
stories in hight. The village of Nobscusset, now generally 
known as North Dennis, consisted of fifty-two dwelling- 
houses, and the old meeting-house, " a neat and convenient 

' Rev. Dr. Freeman, Mass. Hist. Society collections, vol. viiL 



248 OLD YARMOUTH. 

building-, without a steeple." Sumner Lodge of Free 
Masons, then just instituted, had erected near the meeting- 
house "a handsome edifice," forty feet by twenty, the upper 
apartment of which was a hall, and the lower apartment a 
school room. There were two wind-mills near the meeting- 
house, five more mills being in other parts of the township. 
Five sail of fishermen, and three coasters, from thirty to forty 
tons, belonged in this village. " The village of Suet," now 
called East Dennis, contained thirty-six dwelling-houses, 
which stood on Suet and Quivet necks and the land adjoin- 
ing ; and belonging to it were five sail of fishermen. " When 
compared with Nobscusset," says this writer, " it may be 
denominated a pleasant village ; but in comparison with the 
village of Sandwich, there is little or no beauty in it. " It is," 
says he, "a flourishing place; and what contributes princi- 
pally to its prosperity is its numerous and valuable salt 
works." In South Dennis, which included the present 
village by that name, and also the villages of West Dennis 
and Dennis Port, were a hundred dwelling-houses, two only 
of v/hich were two stories high. The greater part of these 
houses were situated near Bass River and constituted a "well 
built village, the inhabitants of which were increasing in 
wealth." They had, according to this author, "an elegant 
meeting-bouse v/ith a steeple." There was, besides, a small 
Quaker meeting-house, situated on the East side of Follen's 
Pond. Five families only in Dennis belonged to it, but it 
was attended by a few Friends from Yarmouth and Harwich. 
There were also thirteen families of Baptists in that village. 
" The rest of the inhabitants, in every part of the township, 
are," says this author, " Congregationalists, who are warmly 
attached to their pastor and not disposed to change ; " for as 
yet there was but one minister of the " standing order " — 
Rev. Mr. Stone — for the whole town. There were then no 
salt-works in Bass River village ; but the inhabitants owned 
nineteen sail of fishermen of fifty tons burthen, each,, ana 



SEPARATION TO THE REBELLION. 249 

four coasters. There were three small wharves on the 
eastern side of Bass River. This, so far as it goes, is an 
authentic account of the Dennis of eighty-five years ago, 
written by an accurate and pains-taking author. 

In 1803, it was voted by the parish to again "repair the 
meeting-house, and make and sell pews," and the additional 
pews were sold Dec. 5, of that year, for which the society 
realized the sum of $1,172. 

Hardly had the repairs on the meeting-house been com- 
pleted ere the beloved pastor. Rev. Nathan Stone, was called 
from the scenes of earth, in the 67th year of his age and the 
40th of his ministry. He died April 26, 1804. He possessed 
many of the characteristics of his predecessor, Mr. Dennis, 
being a devoted spiritual teacher, as well as a friend and 
temporal helper to the people of his charge. 

Rev. Mr. Shaw of Eastham and Rev. Mr. Bascom occupied 
the pulpit here for a considerable number of Sundays, and to 
the latter a settlement was proposed, but not accepted. The 
next \ ear. Rev. Caleb Holmes was ordained as Mr. Stone's 
successor. The town, without regard to the claims of Yar- 
mouth upon the premises, granted to individuals, granted 
liberty to individuals to occupy land at " Black Earth," for 
the erection of salt-works. 

In 1805, by a decided vote, the town refused to grant 
permission to build a bridge across Bass River. The same 
result was had the following year. 

In 1806, the town voted to hire a singing master, for two 
months, and raised the sum of 1^70 to defray the expense. 
This is the first recognition of the importance of music which 
we find on record in town. 

In 1808, the commercial distress of the town, owing to 
the policy of the government in relation to our commercial 
relations with foreign powers, was such that the town voted 
to petition the President "to suspend the embargo laws." 



250 OLD YARMOUTH. 

Somewhere about the year 1808 or 1809, the meeting- 
house of the society of Friends, which was located on the 
East of Pollen's Pond, near what is known as Kelley's Bay, 
was abandoned, and a new meeting-house erected in South 
Yarmouth. The date of the erection of the old house is not 
known. But there were Friends here, nearly as early as they 
appeared in the Colony, and they were never seriously 
annoyed by the townsmen. The road from. East Dennis, 
upon which they travelled to meeting, is still known as the 
" Quaker road." One of their number has, with filial and 
praiseworthy respect for the memory of his ancestors, 
inclosed the spot of the old meeting-house and the primitive 
burning-place, by a substantial fence. The members of the 
old congregation came from East Dennis, South Yarmouth 
and Harwich. There are some now living who have wor- 
shipped there. 

The next year, 1809, the embarrassments of the time 
continuing, the town met for deliberation and action. It 
was voted to raise a committee of safety and correspondence, 
to take into view the critical situation of our public affairs, 
and for the committee to draft a petition with the resolves 
to be presented to the Legislature ; and chose for that 
committee, Capt. David Plowes, James Howes, Esq., Daniel 
Eldridge, Samuel Chase, Lieut. Eleazer Nickerson, Jonathan 
Nickerson, Capt. Judah Paddock, Nathan Crowell, Levi 
Howes. Subsequently, a petition and resolves were reported 
and accepted by the town. 

The census of 18 10 showed the population of the town to 
be 1820. 

Matters continually grew worse, instead of better, so far 
as the business interests of the people were concerned, and 
they were called upon, in 18 12, to face the dread realities 
of war. The years that had preceded it were not much to 
be preferred to actual hostilities, so far as regarded the 
material interests of the people ; for the commerce and trade 



SEPARATION TO THE REBELLION. 251 

were pretty effectually annihilated. The town was called 
upon for its quota, and in anticipation of a draft, voted to 
choose a committee to see that the men drafted for the 
army, have a reasonable compensation from the town, when 
called into actual service, or others be procured in their 
room. Rev. Caleb Holmes died March 21, at the early age 
of 33. During his ministry of eight years, 40 members 
were added to the church, and r 1 1 persons were baptized. 

In 18 14, Sept. 19, the town voted to make arrangements 
for the support and defence of the town, in case of a sudden 
invasion. The committee chosen for that purpose consisted 
of Daniel Howes, Prince Howes, Daniel Eldridge, John 
Baker, 3d, Lieut. Eleazer Nickerson, Obed Baxter, Judah \ 
Paddock, Nathan Crowell, Thomas Hall. The committee 
were authorized to indemnify the captains of such companies 
as march with them out of town. Alarms were of frequent 
occurrence, and it became burdensome to the militia to 
respond to the calls made upon them. Rev. Joseph Haven 
was this year installed as successor to Mr. Holmes, to 
officiate his proportionate time with the South parish, as had 
his immediate predecessors. The Nobscusset Pier Co., 
Daniel Howes and others, was incorporated, this year, "with 
authority to build on the easterly side of Nobscusset Point, 
a pier, of stone and timber, 600 feet in length, more or less." 

After much agitation, the town, in 181 5, voted to give the 
proprietors leave to build a bridge across Bass River, at 
their own cost and charge, they to leave an arch open, 600 
feet wide. The town also united with others, in a memorial 
in relation to treaty arrangements, respecting the fisheries. 
Also chose a committee to fix the line between the North 
and South parishes. The line agreed upon was as follows : 
" Beginning at the Chatham road, on the Yarmouth line, 
running easterly on said road, to the house of Seth Bangs ; 
and still easterly to the Brewster and Harwich line, near the 
North side of White Pond." 



252 OLD YARMOUTH. , 

June 1 8, 1 817, the South part of the town was organized 
as a separate parish, and Rev. John Sanford was called to 
the pastorate. Mr. Sanford was from Berkley, in Bristol 
County, and graduated from Brown, in 181 2. He was 
ordained the following year, engaging to officiate one-fourth 
part of the time in the Congregational meeting-house in 
Harwich, owing to the limited means of his own society. 
The arrangement was not rendered necessary for many 
years. 

The great temperance revival which prevailed in Yarmouth 
about this period, also extended here. In March, 1818, 
the town took action on the subject. After a preamble, 
reciting the evils of the use of ardent spirits, it was voted to 
permit the Selectmen to approbate only judicious persons to 
sell the same. Taverners were not to sell to any of the town 
inhabitants to be drank on the premises, except on public 
days ; and retailers were not to sell in quantities less than a 
quart, to be carried away, the party selling the same not to 
allow drinking or tippling on the premises. Any persons 
not having a license were forbidden to sell less than twenty- 
eight gallons, the whole to be carried away at one time. 
Severe penalties were to be enforced for a breach of these 
regulations. 

Aug., 1820, the town gave a small vote in favor of revising 
the constitution of the State, and subsequently chose Capt. 
Oren Howes a delegate to the convention for that purpose. 
The national census, taken this year, resulted in an enumer- 
ation of 1997 inhabitants in the town. 

In 1821, numerous certificates began to be filed with the 
town clerk, and continued on subsequent years> under the 
Religious Freedom Act, of persons claiming the right to 
withdraw from the "standing order" to other denominations, 
mostly to the Methodists. 

In April, 1823, the town chose a committee to co-operate 
with the authorities of the town of Yarmouth, to regulate the 



SEPARATION TO THE REBELLION. 253 

fisheries in Pollen's Pond. This is the first record made of 
joint action of the towns for the regulation of this pond and 
its tributary streams. 

March, 1825, the town voted to give liberty to individuals 
to dig out Sesuet Harbor, the town not to be held liable for 
any expense for the same. The proposition for a canal from 
the Flax Pond into the sea was before the town, and was 
referred to a committee, but no report of their conclusions 
is extant, and nothing transpired from their deliberations. 

March 14, 1826, Mr. Haven resigned the pastorate of the 
North Parish, on account of ill health. He was succeeded 
by Rev. Daniel Stearns, commencing in October of that 
year, as a supply, and receiving a permanent settlement in 
1828. This being the act of the parish, without the concur- 
rence of the church, — the former being Unitarian, and the 
latter of Orthodox proclivities, — a schism was the result, 
which led to the organization of another society, and the 
existence of another place of worship, which was maintained 
for some years. 

Sept. 20, 1827, Gen. Nathaniel Freeman, a native of this 
town, died in Sandwich, aged Z6. He was an able speaker, 
jurist, physician and military commander, and rendered great 
service to the cause of American independence. 

May, 1829, the town voted to fence in the Indian burying 
ground, provided the owners of the land are willing. In 
Sept., the voters requested the Selectmen not to approbate 
any one to retail ardent spirits. 

By the census of 1830, the number of inhabitants of the 
town was found to be 2317, Dennis having, this decade, 
distanced Yarmouth in the race of population. The town 
appointed a committee of eleven to watch for sellers of intoxi- 
cating drinks, and complain of those selling contrary to law. 

In 1832, it was voted to remonstrate against a petition 
for leave to build a bridge across Bass River ; but leave 



254 OLD YARMOUTH. 

having been granted, a committee was raised to locate a 
bridge. 

In 1834, the town voted that Gamaliel Howes be an agent 
to rent out the cranberry grounds at North Dennis, near 
"Kiah's Pond," (so called.) This is the first record which 
gives an indication of the importance of cranberry lands, 
and is therefore a fitting occasion for tracing the history of 
the cranberry culture — a business which, like the salt manu- 
facture by solar evaporation, originated on the North side of 
Dennis. This delicious fruit, which is indigenous to the soil, 
has, from the earliest settlement of the country, been greatly 
esteemed, but from the restricted production has not been in 
general and popular use. The berry was a luxury for the 
rich and for the tables of epicures. In 1677, to appease the 
wrath of King Charles the Second, who was angry with 
Massachusetts colony for coining " pine-tree " shilling pieces, 
the general court ordered a present to be sent him of " ten 
barrels of cranberries, two hogsheads of samp, and three 
thousand codfish," luxuries which, it was thought, would 
soften the ire of an angry monarch. It is now about sixty 
years since any attempt was made to cultivate the fruit. Mr. 
Henry Hall of Dennis, having a marshy lot which produced 
some very fine berries, was led to try the experiment of 
transplanting some of the vines on another portion of the 
same swamp. The experiment was successful, and he and 
others continued their efforts in this direction. But it took 
years of careful study and laborious and costly experiment to 
ascertain the processes, soil and conditions necessary to 
success. Others have followed up the trail started by Mr. 
Hall, and in 1884 the product of Barnstable County — where 
the most delicious berries are found — was estimated at 
^300,000. 

In 1839, the general government made an appropriation of 
$900 for increasing the height of Dennis breakwater, to be 
expended under the direction of Capt. Uriah Howes. Rev- 



SEPARATION TO THE REBELLION. 255 

John Sanford resigned the charge of the 2d Congregational 
church, wishing to remove from a seaboard climate, on 
account of his health. He took up his residence in Amherst, 
and was succeeded by Rev. Thacher Thayer, a little more 
than a year later. 

In 1838, Mr. Stearns, of the North Parish, preached his 
farev/ell discourse, and was succeeded by Rev. Robert F. 
Walcott, a preacher of great earnestness and zeal, in the 
anti-slavery agitation. He remained here nine years, and 
after a supply by Rev. Mr. White, the Rev. Joshua Chandler 
ministered, for a while, to the spirtual wants of the society. 
But the society was on the decline, and the organization is 
now extinct. Contemporaneous with Mr. Walcott, Rev. 
Daniel Kenrick, Jr., had been settled over the 3d Congrega- 
tional society, Trinitarian, which grew out of the secession 
from the parent church. This organization survived but a 
short time, and was ultimately merged in the Methodist 
society. This, in turn, gave way to the Independent 
Religious Society, all the various outgrowths of the old 
parish organization, meeting together and worshiping in a 
spirit of mutual harmony and toleration. 

The national census, in 1840, showed the population of 
the town to be 2942, a gratifying increase during the preced- 
ing decade. Mr. Stephen Homer, a citizen of intelligence 
and influence in town, died this year. Tradition gives the 
origin of the family as from Bristol, Eng., the first of the name 
in the province being the master of a trading vessel between 
London and Boston. Mr. Homer was the father of a family 
of fourteen, and Rev. Timothy Alden, Jr., mentions, in his 
Meviorabilia of YarvioiUli, written in 1797, that he had in 
1792, nine sons living, of whom seven were 6 ft. 3 inch, in 
height, or over, — some 6 ft. 6 in. height. 

By the great gale of Oct. 2, 1841, this town sustained much 
loss of life, and no inconsiderable loss of property. On the 
previous night the vessels were fishing on the Southwest 



256 OLD YARMOUTH. 

part of Georges Bank. The gale springing up, they made 
sail to run for the Cape. The strongest canvas was blown 
to shreds. Some of the vessels succeeded in getting into 
the bay and running ashore on the beach. Others were 
driven on the Nantucket shoals, and still others were foun- 
dered at sea. The list of casualties embraces twenty men, 
most of them just entering upon manhood, eighteen of the 
deceased living within the square of a mile, in a single school 
district. Eight of them left widows and eleven children. Six 
only of them were over 30 years of age. The names of the 
lost are as follows : Freeman Hall, John Howes, 2d, Fred- 
erick Howes, Noah H. Crowell, Urbana Crowell, Stephen 
Sears, Jr., Marshall Kelley, Jonathan Howes, Uriah Howes, 
Jr., Martin Howes, Philip Howes, Luther Howes, Gustavus 
Hedge, Elisha Howes, Peter Crowell, Kimball Howes, Albert 
Howes, Leonard Sears, Daniel Howes, 3d, Samuel Howes. 
No such sweeping calamity ever befell a community in this 
town since it has had an existence. 

By the removal and subsequent settlement of Rev. Thacher 
Thayer to Newport, R. L, the pulpit of the 2d Congregational 
society, in 1841, became vacant. Rev. Mr. Jennings suc- 
ceeded him as a supply, and Rev. J. H. Pettingell, Rev, 
Isaiah C. Thacher, Rev. Mr. Tolman and others have occupied 
the pulpit. Rev. Austin Dodge is now the settled pastor. 

In if^43, June 14, Philip Hinckley, a revolutionary pen- 
sioner, died, aged 87. He was in the battle of Bunker Hill, 
and took part in subsequent engagements. 

In 1844, Feb. 23d, Col. Nehemiah Baker, then a Repre- 
sentative of the town in the General Court, died in Boston, 
He had previeusly served the town for several years as 
Clerk and Treasurer, and was actively engaged in trade. A 
committee of the Legislature attended his funeral. 

Aug. 28, 1845, Samuel Chase, a revolutionary soldier, died. 
He was for three years a Representative from the town, and 
served in other public trusts. 



SEPARATION TO THE REBELLION. 257 

The Legislature of 1846 reported "leave to withdraw," on 
the petition of committees of Yarmouth and Dennis, for 
leave to sell the Whaling Grounds at Nobscusset, the position 
of the Legislature being, that this was a subject exclusively 
in the jurisdiction of the towns, who were the proprietors of 
those lands. Subsequent movements in the same direction 
have been unsuccessful, except in respect to some small 
tracts, the citizens preferring to retain the proprietorship of 
territory especially reserved by their fathers, even though 
the purposes for which they were set apart are no longer 
operative. 

Leave was granted, by the Legislature of 1847, to J. K. 
Baker, to build a wharf near the Shad Hole, on the South 
side. The Reformed Methodists erected a meeting-house in 
East Dennis. 

By acts of the Legislature of 1848, the County Commis- 
sioners were granted permission to build bridges across 
Herring River and Swan Pond Creek, in Harwich and 
Dennis ; also across Garden River and Bass Hole Creek, in 
Dennis and Yarmouth. In the succeeding year, the Com- 
missioners were again empowered to build a bridge over tide- 
waters in Dennis. N. Fisk was authorized to build a wharf 
on the south side of the town. 

The census of 1850 showed another increase of population 
of 271 for the decade, or a total of 3213. 20,395 barrels of 
mackerel were this year packed and inspected in town, 
exceeding in the amount any other town in the County except 
Provincetown. 

An act was passed by the Legislature of 1852 to incorpo- 
rate the Flax Pond Fishing Company of Dennis, for the 
purpose of opening an outlet from Sursuit Creek to the sea. 
For delegate to the Convention to revise the Constitution of 
the State, the town chose Hon. Seth Crowell. 

March 25, 1853, a ship of 923 tons measurement, was 
launched from the yard of the Messrs. Shiverick in East 



258 OLD YARMOUTH. 

Dennis, and called the Belle of tJie West. She was owned 
by Capt. Christopher Hall and others, of Dennis and Boston, 
and was a handsome and staunch craft. 

In Dec. 28, 1853, occurred a violent snow-storm, which 
occasioned great damage to the shipping at sea, and which 
was moored at the wharves on the coast. The breakwater 
and wharves on the northerly side of the town were much 
injured. The store of Messrs. Howes and Crowell, at the 
'■^ Corporation," was removed from its foundation, their 
packing sheds demolished, and their barrels and other 
movables washed away and scattered along the coast. 

The most noteworthy event connected with the annals of 
the town for 1855, was the extension of the magnetic tele- 
graph, by two rival lines, to the several villages within the 
township. 

Capt. Eleazer Nickerson, a man of energy and influence 
in his day, died Sept. 23, 1856. By the apportionment of 
the State tax to the towns in this County, Dennis was the 
fifth in point of amount, of the thirteen. 

In 1857, the town sustained a severe loss, in the death of 
Capt. Christopher Hall, aged 48. Capt. Hall was early a 
most successful shipmaster, acquired a fortune, by good 
judgment and intelligent application to his chosen vocation, 
and retired from the sea. He was selected as the President 
of the Bank of Cape Cod, at Harwich, at its organization, 
and continued in that relation, to his death. He was 
universally esteemed, both for his business qualities, and for 
his generous and manly traits of character. 

Oct. 20, 1858, the town sustained the loss of Capt. Uriah 
Howes, aged 73, who, in the days of his active life, was a 
leading and influential citizen. 

The re-organization of the school districts occupied the 
attention of the town, during the years 1858 -'59-'6o. The 
friends of progress, in this direction, encountered the deter- 
mined opposition of those whose conservatism led them. 



SEPARATION TO THE REBELLION. 259 

with a sentiment, not entirely unpraiseworthy, to adhere to 
the usages of the fathers of the town. The efforts made in 
favor of the new system were not always technically correct, 
and hence the matter frequently was in the courts, where 
the laws were impartially construed, though not always in 
harmony with the desires of the friends of the modern sys- 
tem of education. No good purpose would be served by 
recapitulating the grounds of opposition to the measures 
proposed b}^ the majority, or the legal questions involved, as 
all these matters are now at rest. In the end, the modern 
theories prevailed; the districts were consolidated, — one 
each in Dennis, East Dennis, South Dennis, West Dennis 
and Dennis Port ; the people taxed themselves liberally for 
their erection and support ; primary and grammar depart- 
ments were and now are maintained in each, and sufficient 
books, apparatus and other accessories are provided to render 
the system efficient in all its details. 

In i860, a vote was passed to petition the Legislature for 
a division of the town, and a committee, consisting of 
Messrs. Seth Crowell and Miller W. Nickerson, was 
appointed to appear before the committee of the Legislature, 
in favor of the project. But in January following, a vote 
was passed, reconsidering the former vote, and Messrs. 
Nehemiah Crowell and Joshua Wixon were appointed a 
committee to oppose the division. The powers of the first 
committee were not revoked, and both committees appeared 
before the legislative committee on towns, who reported 
" leave to withdraw," which was accepted. Lothrop Howes 
died April 22, aged ^6. 

July 20, 1861, Capt. Seth Crowell, Jr., master of ship 
Robin Hood, of Boston, died in Singapore, aged 37. 



CHAPTER II. 
THE REBELLION TO OUR OWN TIMES. 

Proceedings of the Town — Men and Money'iVoted — Expression of the Sentiment of 
the Town — Union of School Districts — Tragedy on Board Brig Lubia — Death of 
Seth Crowell, Prince S. Crowell, and Other Prominent Citizens — Recent Local 
Events, etc. 

DURING the war of the Rebellion, from 1 86 1 to 1865, the 
town was united in its efforts to sustain the policy and acts 
of the general government. Its citizens, in their private 
capacity, did much to encourage and sustain the men in the 
army and navy ; and, as a town, never faltered, or hesitated 
to meet every call for men or money. The following is a 
summary of the action of the citizens in their municipal 
capacity. 

April 26, 1 86 1, after a town meeting, held for the purpose 
of attending to school matters, Capt. Prince S. Crowell 
called attention to the immediate necessity of some action 
on the part of the town, to aid the efforts of the government 
to put down treason, "establish justice, and secure liberty," 
throughout the land. The proposition was supported by 
Hon. Seth Crowell, Hon. M. S. Underwood and M. W. 
Nickerson, Esq. A request to the Selectmen, to call a town 
meeting, forthwith, to further the objects aimed at, was 
immediately drawn up and signed, and a committee, 
consisting of P. S. Crowell, Seth Crowell, M. W. Nickerson, 
Joshua Wixon and Luther Child, was chosen to consider the 
subject, in all its bearings, and report to the meeting. The 
authorized meeting was held May 13, and a Committee of 



REBELLION TO OUR OWN TIMES. 261 

Safety appointed, to confer with the State and Town 
Committees, — consisting of Seth Crowell, Prince S. Crowell, 
Joseph Hall, Miller W. Nickerson and Nehemiah Crowell. 
Voted, to raise $800, as a fund to assist the troops of the 
State, in active service ; to pay to each citizen volunteer, a 
bounty of ;^30, for either land or sea service ; to make proper 
provision for the family of any volunteer from the town of 
Dennis ; and to raise the sum of $1,500, as a fund to pay the 
bounty to volunteers, to provide for their families, and for 
other necessary expenses. The committee appointed April 
27, reported a preamble and a series of resolutions, reciting 
the action of the South, particularly its authorizing the 
fitting out of privateers, and issuing letters of marque ; 
and pledging the town to stand by the President, upon the 
principles presented in his inaugural address ; to render all 
the assistance in their power " to put down rebellion, punish 
treason," and " transmit to the future, the Union of the 
States, unbroken and entire." These resolutions were 
unanimously adopted. 

A special town meeting was held on the 26th of July, 
1862, to act upon matters growing out of the town's relations 
to the war. A committee of six was appointed to act in 
conjunction with the selectmen, in recruiting volunteers to 
fill the quota required of the town, under the call of the 
President for three hundred thousand men for three years' 
military service. They were authorized to pay a bounty of 
$250 to each recruit, when mustered into service and prop- 
erly credited to the quota of the town ; or they could be paid 
the bounty before being mustered, upon " giving satisfactory 
security to the selectmen that the money would be refunded, 
if the volunteer did not pass examination and was rejected." 
The Treasurer was authorized to borrow money sufficient to 
meet this expenditure. August 19, another formal meeting 
was held ; and it was voted to pay the same amount of 
bounty to nine-months men ; three-quarters of the amount to 



262 OLD YARMOUTH. 

the recruit when he should be accepted, mustered in, and 
credited, and the remaining quarter when he was honorably 
discharged from the service. The Treasurer was authorized 
to borrow $5000 to defray the expenses thus incurred. Other 
votes for the payment of the sums due in carrying out the 
provisions of the foregoing arrangement were passed from 
time to time. " The result shows that few towns were more 
active in the good cause, or came out of the war with a better 
record." ' 

Dennis reported, in 1866, to have furnished 220 men for 
the war ; but this must have been considerably less than the 
actual number. Including those in the naval service, her 
number of men must have been at least 375, as at t he close 
of the war, it was ascertained that the town had filled its 
quota on every call, and had a surplus of 43 over and above 
all demands. None of the volunteers from this town in the 
military service were commissioned officers ; but several 
valuable officers from this town were engaged in the naval 
service. The amount of money expended by the town on 
account of the war, exclusive of State aid^ was ^22,652.66. 
The amount raised and expended by the town during four 
years for aid to the families of volunteers, which was after- 
wards refunded by the Commonwealth, was ^3,816.61. 

June 2, 1863, ship Ellen Sears, 95,0 tons burthen, was 
launched from the ship-yard of the Messrs. Shiverick, in 
East Dennis. She was owned by J. Henry Sears of Boston, 
and others, and was a craft of good model and sea-worthy 
capacity. The Shivericks were notable ship-builders in this 
place, and constructed a larger class of vessels than had 
usually been built in this town. They descended from Rev. 
Samuel Shiverick, the first minister of Falmouth. The 
Brays, during the latter part of the last century, and the first 
part of the present, constructed many vessels, in Hockanom, 
some three miles from the Shivericks' yard, of from 50 tO: 

^ Sclioulei-'s " Mass. in the Rebellion.'.' 



REBELLION TO OUR OWN TIMES. 263 

150 tons burthen, which was the usual limit of the size of 
vessels in those days. No record of the number of these 
crafts built, which was considerable, can be traced by their 
descendants. 

The events of the war absorbed the energies of the people 
to a great degree, so that from 1861 to 1865 the chief interest 
of the people of the town centered in it and its events. In 
March, 1862, Jonathan Nickerson, Esq., died, aged 88. He 
was 19 years Selectman, several years Special County Com- 
missioner, and transacted much public business. ' 

In the progress of the modern development of the town, 
we note the first train on the Cape Cod Central Railroad, 
which, through the energy of the citizens of this and the 
adjoining towns, was opened to Orleans, Dec. 6, 1864. The 
villages on the South side of the town, and East Dennis, 
were brought several hours nearer to Boston by this arrange- 
ment. This enterprise, prosecuted during the throes of the 
rebellion, shows that, notwithstanding the drains upon our 
resources, our people still kept up their courage and deter- 
mination to develop and improve all their opportunities. 
Capt. Zenas Howes died July 13, aged 84; Mr. Moses 
Howes, Sept. 27, aged 79. 

A sad tragedy, which illustrates some of the perils, beside 
th«se of the sea, which formerly beset the Cape Cod sailor in 
the pursuit of his hazardous vocation, occurred Sept. 23, 
1865. The barque Lubra, commanded by Capt. Benj. P. 
Howes of Dennis, was overhauled by a party of Chinese 
pirates, when one day out of Hong Kong. The party was 
large and well armed, and Capt. Howes saw, at once, that 
resistance would be ineffectual. Some of the crew took to 
the rigging, and others, in fright, jumped overboard. Those 
in the water were rescued by the pirates, and two of the crew 
were shot in the rigging. The pirates then commenced 

* It has not been the purpose of tlie writer to extend the list of mortuary notices - 
but the decease of those holding public and official relations has induced him to give some 
account of their lives and characters, while recording their dscease. 



264 OLD YARMOUTH. 

rifling the vessel, the captain, who had his wife and child with 
him, in the meantime having been driven into the cabin, 
where a guard very carefully watched over him. After six 
hours robbery, having possessed themselves of all the valu- 
ables in the vessel, one of the pirates approached Capt. 
Howes, who sat on a sofa beside his wife, with the child in 
his arms, and telling him he must die, shot him, without 
delay. They then destroyed the boats and nautical instru- 
ments, set fire to the vessel, and departed. By great exertions 
on the part of the crew who were spared, the vessel was saved 
and brought back, with the survivors, to Hong Kong. This 
casualty illustrates the cruel and brutal character of the 
Asiatic races, to whose avarice and greed many of our 
American sailors formerly were cruelly and brutally sacrificed. 
This incident recalled to the mind of some of the older 
citizens the sad fate of Capt. Joshua Hall of Dennis, who, 
with his mate, Mr. Jabez Howes, of sch. Napoleon of Dennis, 
was murdered by pirates, off Madeira, forty-five years before, 
or somewhere about the year 1820. Of another character, 
though hardly less thrilling, was the experience of the crew of 
the brig Polly, formerly so familiar to the readers of the Mar- 
iner s Chronicle, and similar works. The Polly sailed from 
Boston, some sixty years ago, commanded by Capt. VVm. L. 
Cazneau, and among her crew were Mr. John Paddock, the 
chief mate, and Mr. Henry Howes, two citizens of Dennis. 
Mr. Paddock had commanded a vessel, himself, and was an 
experienced and efficient seaman. Mr. Howes had seen 
many vicissitudes in life ; had been impressed on board a 
British war vessel, before the war of 1812- 15, as was often 
the case with our sailors, before that period. A short time 
after leaving port, when on the southern edge of the Gulf 
Stream, the vessel encountered a severe gale, in which she 
was thrown upon her beam ends, and the crew were obliged 
to cut away the masts, when the vessel righted, full of 
water. Being lumber-laden, the vessel was in no danger of 



REBELLION TO OUR OWN TIMES. 265 

sinking, but floated like a log upon the ocean. Now com- 
menced a struggle for life, against exposure and hunger. 
One by one the crew perished, until, in a few days, Capt. 
Cazneau and the cook, an Indian, were left alone. It seems 
incredible, but it is nevertheless true, that these two men 
floated over the most frequented part of the ocean, for over 
six months, living upon barnacles that grew upon the 
vessel's side, with an occasional shark, which they succeeded 
in capturing. They had not a drop of water, or any fire, at 
first, but by igniting pieces of wood, by friction, and distill- 
ing salt water, and securing the steam, by an old boiler and 
tea-kettle, on a cook-stove, they managed to secure both, 
and to keep alive for one hundred and ninety days, with so 
little shock to the constitution of Capt. Cazneau, that he 
lived to be 97 years old, dying in San Francisco, in 1866.' 
Surely, neither Victor Hugo, in his " Toilers of the Sea," nor 
Defoe, in his wonderful fiction, the delight of the young and 
old, for so many generations, have recited a more 
marvelous experience than this. Had our ancestors been 
as effective v/ith the pen, as they confessedly were with the 
musket, the tiller and the oar, the world would have been 
treated to narratives possessing all the wonders and thrilling 
experiences delineated in the fictions of the great masters, 
without drawing upon the imagination or violating the verities 
of real life and experience. 

Feb. 12, 1866, the town, by a decisive vote, abolished the 
school districts, as then constituted. Aug, 25, 1866, Capt. 
Paul Crowell, a worthy native of the town, who, from busi- 
ness and prudential motives, in early years settled in West 
Sandwich, departed this life at the mature age of 88 years. 
Sept. 22, Capt. Thomas Hall, one of the Selectmen of the 
town, died at the age of 66. 

'Capt. Thos. P. Howes, in the Yarmouth Register, Aug. 17, 1S66. Capt. H., 
with his retentive memory and grapliic pen, ought to enricli the literature of the sea with a 
volume of reminiscences and personal recollections. 



266 OLD YARMOUTH, 

1868, Feb. 17, died Joseph Hall, who had been a Repre- 
sentative to the General Court, two years, a town officer and 
a most useful and efficient citizen. 

By an act of the Legislature, of 1869, the toll bridges over 
Bass River, between Dennis and Yarmouth, were made free 
to public travel. By the provisions of the act, three 
commissioners were appointed by the Supreme Court, to 
appraise the property, and to apportion the amount to be 
paid among the parties in interest. The Court appointed 
Hon. Thomas D. Eliot and Mr. Henry T. Wood, of New 
Bedford, and Hon. Alfred Macy, of Nantucket, and by their 
award, made in January, 1870, estimated the value of the 
bridges at $9,285.69, with expenses at $642.75, amounting to 
;$9,928.44. Of this amount, it was decreed that the County 
of Barnstable pay 7-i4ths, viz: $4,964.22; the town of 
Dennis, 3-i4ths, or $2,127.52 ; the town of Yarmouth, a like 
amount; and the town of Harwich, i-i4th, or $709.18. 
This award was afterwards affirmed by the Court, and the 
bridge made free in 1870. The cemetery near the First 
church was, this year, by voluntary subscriptions among the 
citizens and former residents, surrounded with a substantial 
iron fence, with granite posts, and the grounds beautified 
and improved. William Howes, who had been a Represen- 
tative and town officer, died Jan. 2 ; and Nehemiah Y. Hall,, 
for many years Postmaster of Dennis, Oct. 9. 

Jan. 14, 1870, Joseph K. Baker, Esq., died, aged 69. He 
was a resident at Dennis Port, where he was extensively 
engaged in the fishing business. He had represented the 
town in the Legislature, had been Selectman, and filled 
other town and public trusts, with wisdom and fidelity. 
Obed Howes, Esq., died Sept. 16. By the national census, 
of this year, Dennis was ascertained to have 3^,266 inhab 
itants. 

Nov. 16, 1 87 1, Capt. Carleton Howes departed this life, at 
the age of 59 years. He was not, in one sense, a public 



REBELLION TO OUR OWN TIMES. 267 

man, for he had not often filled official positions ; but he 
was a successful ship-master, and a helpful friend to all 
projects of a public nature, to advance the interests and 
happiness of his neighbors and friends. Dec. 6, of this year, 
a meeting of those interested in the fisheries was held, in 
Harwich, in which several leading fish firms, of this 
town participated, to protest against the ratification of the 
fishery clause of the Washington treaty, and to endeavor to 
accomplish its defeat in the Senate. The efforts of these 
gentlemen were not successful ; and to the ratification of 
that treaty, may be traced the decline of the fishing interest 
in this town. 

It is a sad reflection, in one sense, that the annals of 1872 
are to be mostly composed of obituary notices of honored 
and respected citizens, who, this year, departed this mortal 
life; but in another sense, this is not so sad, if "honor, love, 
obedience, troops of friends, and all that should accompany 
old age," should be taken into account. Mr. Jonathan H. 
Tobey died, Jan. 15, 1872, aged 77 years. He was from an 
old family, and, personally, greatly respected. But his 
name does not often figure on the official records, because 
his opinions were not in harmony with the prevailing 
majority. Capt. Luther Child and Capt. Nehemiah Crowell, 
two of the most venerable and respected citizens of West 
Dennis, neighbors and contemporaries for many years, died, 
Capt. Child, Feb. 15, and Capt. Crowell, Feb. 21. Capt. 
Child was a native of Warren, R. I., born in 1787, and was, 
consequently, 84 years old at the time of his death. In his 
early life, he commanded a Baltimore packet, the Rolla, a 
Greenock-built vessel, captured by the Yankee privateers, in 
the war of 1812-15. He lived, for some years, in Balti- 
more, but married at Dennis, and lived there after his 
retirement. He was Postmaster, at West Dennis, for many 
years, and was always widely and highly esteemed. Capt. 
Nehemiah Crowell, who departed this life, at the age 



268 OLD YARMOUTH. 

of 79 years, was a native of the town. He was engaged 
in the seafaring business in early life, and, upon retiring, 
was employed in town and other public business. He was 
Representative, Selectman, and, for many years, manager of 
the Dennis and Harwich Marine Insurance Company. No 
one could be more widely esteemed or trusted than he. 
Joshua Wixon, Esq., aged 85, died Aug. 18. He was well 
and favorably known by all his associates and contempora- 
ries. 

April I, 1873, Hon. Seth Crowell, a gentleman, who, for 
half a century, had occupied a leading position with the 
citizens of the town, was taken from the scenes of earth. 
At the age of eighteen Mr. Crowell commenced life, as many a 
Cape Cod boy did in those times, upon a vessel's deck ; he 
steadily rose, by industry, application to duty and fidelity to 
the interests intrusted to him, to high estimation by 
his fellow-citizens. He was captured by the British, in the 
war of 1812- 15, and made a prisoner at Dartmoor. In 
1835, and three years thereafter, he was elected a Repre- 
sentative from the town, in 1841-2; a Senator from the 
Cape, and afterwards, for nine years, a member of the board 
of County Commissioners, most of the time its chairman. 
He was, in the meantime, a Director of the Barnstable 
Bank, and its successor, the First National Bank of 
Yarmouth, for several years its President, and a Director of 
the Barnstable Co. Mutual Fire Insurance Company, for a 
long succession of years; also a member of the Constitution- 
al Convention, in 1853, and again a Representative from 
Dennis, in 1868. It will be seen that for nearly forty years 
he was in the public service, and the confidence of the 
public was never withdrawn from him. 

The obituary record of 1874 bears the names of Capt. 
Nathan Fisk, April 26, the father of a large and enterprising 
family of sons, at the age of 71 ; of Capt. Levi Howes, May 
18, a successful ship-master, afterwards greatly interested in 




Hon, Seth Crowell 
born 1791-died 1873. 



REBELLION TO OUR OWN TIMES. 269 

the common schools, serving as Superintendent for several 
years. 

Among the losses of 1875, were Capt. Dean Sears, March 
27 ; Stephen Homer, who died from a distressing accident, 
May 17, aged 79; Dr. Alfred Swift, July 27. These were 
among the oldest and most esteemed citizens of the town. 
Otherwise, the annals of the town were uneventful, and, 
according to the modern philosophy, happy. 

Feb. 4, 1876, Capt. Ezra H. Baker died, at South Boston. 
He was a native of South Dennis, where he was born, in 
181 1. Beginning his life as a cabin boy, he rapidly rose to 
the command of a vessel ; afterwards he became the head of 
the firm of Baker & Morrill, ship-chandlers ; and later, 
as an extensive capitalist, he was identified with the building 
of the Union Pacific Railroad. Among the other deaths of 
the year, were : Capt. Orren Howes, an old and esteemed 
packet-master, April 12, aged 72 years; Capt. Seth T. 
Whelden, a venerable resident of South Dennis, Dec. 9, 
aged 91 years. July 18, a fire in the woods, northeasterly of' 
Follins's Pond, spread over a large region of territory, ex- 
tending nearly to the village of Searsville. Several out-houses 
were destroyed. Steps were taken, this year, which resulted 
in the improvement of the grounds of the Howes burial 
place, in Dennis. Some three hundred of the descendants of 
Thomas Howes have been gathered to this place of sepulture.' 

There was a good deal of agitation, in 1877, in relation 
to the Bass River Fisheries. There has always been a party 
in this, as in other towns, who contended that " fishing and 
fowling are free." This, as a proposition, in a new country, 
is, no doubt, correct. But, in the changes of the times, 
when population became more dense, it was also necessary 
to guard these privileges, for the public good ; hence, the 
necessity of restrictive laws. The Legislature, unless the 

■ The inscription upon the monument to Thomas Howes, in this burial place, as repro- 
duced on page 48, states that he emigrated in 1637 from England. There is, however, 
evidence that he was in Salem in the year 1635. 



270 OLD YARMOUTH. 

parties go to the Supreme Court, — the last resort of 
litigants, who have grievances, which they wish to redress, 
to which they desire to appeal for final adjudication, — was 
applied to, to set this question right ; but no decisive action 
Vv^as arrived at. 

Sept. 1 6, 1878, Judah Sears, a native of this town, died in 
South Boston, at the age of nearly 74 years. He was a 
contractor, and erected some of the best buildings in the 
city of Boston. He had a peculiar fancy for erecting high 
church spires, and built the Chickering piano works and 
Gilmore's Coliseum. Nov. 4, Wm. Frederick Howes was 
taken from these earthly scenes. Capt. Howes was a successful 
ship-master, for twenty-two years, and there were combined 
in his organization, both conscience and intelligence. 

As has been too frequent, of late years, the most impor- 
tant addition to the annals of the town, for 1879, is the 
record of the departure, to the spiritual world, of several of 
its most valued citizens. Capt. Frederick Nickerson, hotel- 
keeper and depot master, departed. May 27. Sept. 10, 
Capt. Peter Harding, a native of South Dennis, died in 
Baltimore, Md. He was in business in that city, for many 
years, was honored and respected, and his death was 
universally regretted. Capt. Colin C. Baker died in West 
Dennis, Sept. 23. He was a successful ship-master, and 
once commanded one of Vanderbilt's largest steamers. He 
afterwards retired from the sea, and went into business, in 
Providence, R. I. Nov. 27, Judah Baker died, in South 
Dennis, at the age of 75. 

July 5, 1880, Capt. Jacob S. Howes, a native of this town, 
died at Sandy Neck Light station, of which he was the 
Keeper. Capt. Howes was a man of great acuteness of intel- 
lect, and a writer of ability and force. 

Nov. 1 88 1, Capt. Prince S. Crowell departed this life, very 
suddenly, in Boston. He was a son of Capt. David Crowell, 
and was born in East Dennis in 1812. He followed the sea 




U** ' J. 



Capt, Prince S, Crowell, 
born 1812-died 1881, 



REBELLION TO UR OWN ThMES. 271 

very early in life, and was soon in command of a ship. 
Leaving" the sea quite early, he became largely interested in 
the management of vessels and in banking and railroad 
enterprises. Later, he was President of the Cape Cod 
National Bank and of the Five Cents Savings Bank, Director 
of the Old Colony Railroad Co., and was one of the origina- 
tors of, and a large stockholder in, the Pacific Guano Company 
at Woods Holl. He was actively identified with the building 
of Western railroads. Although greatly interested in public 
affairs, he would never accept official positions. He was the 
early friend of Garrison, Phillips, Parker and the other pio- 
neers in the anti-slavery movement, and his opinions were 
liberal and progressive. His enterprise and generosity 
rendered his business successes a source of great advantage 
to his native town. 

In the obituary list of 1882, we sadly record, Joseph 
Nickerson, at "Hotel Brunswick," Boston, June 22, at the 
age of 58. He was a counsellor-at-law, was a man of good 
understanding, attached to his old friends on Cape Cod, and 
disposed to render them all possible assistance in their 
enterprises. Aug. 15, Marshall S. Underwood died. Mr. 
Underwood commenced life under adverse circumstances. 
But he had love for learning, and ambition to excel. He 
was a son of Rev. Nathan, of Revolutionary memory ; he 
graduated from a shoemaker's bench, was first. Town Clerk 
and Treasurer, four years Representative ; Senator in 1869- 
70 ; Executive Councillor, three years ; Presidential Elector, 
in 1880, when he gave the vote of the First District for 
James A. Garfield. 

May 30, 1883, Capt. Obed B. Whelden of South Dennis, 
an enterprising ship-master, died at Pensacola, Fla. Aug. 

II, Rev. Nathan Chapman, a venerable Baptist clergyman, 
died, in East Dennis, aged 85 years, 10 months. And here 
closes the record of the ninety years since Dennis was made 

a separate township. While regretting that her material 



272 OLD YARMOUTH. 

interests are not more prosperous, it is still true that the 
energy and thrift of her people enable them to maintain 
their homes, so renowned for comfort and the domestic vir- 
tues ; which leads to the hope that these qualities may, as 
they have in the past, assist them to overcome the present 
difficulties, and re-establish their material prosperity, ere 
they celebrate the centennial of their existence as a town. 



CHAPTER III. 
STATISTICS OF POPULATION. 

Various Census Tables — Change of Business Enterprises — Emigrations from the Town 
— Closing Reflections. 

NO systematic enumeration of the inhabitants of the towns 
of the County of Barnstable, nor of Plymouth Colony, 
was, so far as appears, undertaken from the time of settle- 
ment to until shortly before the Revolutionary war ; and an 
idea of their growth in population up to that date must be 
largely a matter of inference and calculation, more or less 
reliable. A list of those between the ages of i6 and 60, able 
to bear arms in the three townships on the Cape, in 1643, 
numbered 51 in Sandwich, 60 in Barnstable, and 52 in Yar- 
mouth, making a total of 163. Estimating that this list 
comprised one-fourth of the whole population, would make 
the number of inhabitants of the Cape as follows : 

Sandwich, 51 204 

Barnstable, 60 240 

Yarmouth, 52 208 



163 652 

In the year 1675, an enumeration of the houses of "all the 
trading towns and ports upon the sea and navigable rivers," 
was made, the results of which have recently come to light 
in the department of manuscripts in the British Museum. 



274 OLD YARMOUTH. 

There were then 1300 such houses in Plymouth Colony, and 
of these 100 were in Sandwich, 150 in Yarmouth, 100 in 
Nausett, 150 in Barnstable, or 500 in the Cape towns. 
Allowing six persons to one house, — and this seems a mod- 
erate computation, — for large families prevailed in those 
days, — gives a population of about 3000, in the whole coun- 
ty ; and 900 in Old Yarmouth. 

June 2, 1763, Gov. Bernard recommended the taking of 
the census of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, and Feb. 
2, 1764, the selectmen were ordered to make returns of the 
population of the towns, by the last day of December. The 
work was finished March, 1765, and as it is the first recorded 
census of this County, we give it entire, — comparing it with 
the first U. S. Census of 1790 : 

Barnstable, 

Chatham, 

Eastham, 

Falmouth, 

Harwich, 

Marshpee, 

Provincetown, 

Sandwich, 

Truro, 

Wellfleet, 

Yarmouth, 

12,376 17,354 

It will be seen that at the time of the taking of this last 
census, — three years before the East Parish was set off as a 
town under the name of Dennis, — Yarmouth was the largest 
town in the County, and Harwich — Brewster not then 
having separated from the mother town — was less than three 
hundred smaller. Orleans was also then a part of Eastham, 

Taking these calculations as a basis for the earlier enum- 
erations, and the results of the various United States 



1765. 


1790. 


2008 


2610 


6j^ 


1 140 


1327 


1834 


1063 


1637 


1681 


2392 


108 


308 


454 


454 


1376 


1991 


924 


1 193 


917 


1117 


1740 


2678 





208 




900 




1740 




2678 


1408 


3135 


1739 


3873 


1994 


4226 


2317 


4568 


2942 


5496 


3213 


5612 


3662 


6414 


3269 


5692 


3288 


5461 



S TA 7 IS TICS OF POP ULA TIOX, 275 

censuses, since, we present, below, the following comparative 
table of population of the old town : 

POPULATION OF OLD YARMOUTH. 

1643, Estimated, 

1675, . " 

1765, First Census, 

1790, First U. S. Census, 

1800, Yarmouth, 1727 Dennis, 

1810, " 2134 " 

1820, " 2232 " 

1830, " 2251 

1840, " 2554 

1850, " 2399 

i860, " 2752 " 

1870, " 2423 " 

1880, " 2173 

These are not inspiring figures, and, it must be confessed, 
do not hold out high hopes for the future of the old town. 
The growth of population, up to 1860, though not large, was 
steady and uninterrupted. The first settlers were husband- 
men and fishermen, with an intermingling of whalemen and 
of those who engaged in foreign commerce. The whalemen 
soon became an insignificant factor in our population, but 
those engaged in foreign commerce largely increased, and 
the town became, in a sense, the nursery of enterprising, 
intelligent ship-masters. To no portion of the country was 
the language of Edmund Burke more applicable than to the 
people of Old Yarmouth : " No sea but what is vexed by 
their fisheries ; no climate that is not witness to their toils." 
Up to i860, this race of intrepid navigators, — rivalling in 
adventure and hardihood those of Venice and Genoa, — were 
yearly added to the population of the town, and a still larger 
number of them settled in New York and Boston, but still 
kept up their intimate connection and association with the 
old town ; but the Rebellion of 1861-5, with its disastrous 
incidents to the foreign commerce of the country, threw 
hundreds of the young men of the town out of employment, 



276 OLD YARMOUTH. 

and compelled them to seek "fresh fields and pastures new," 
away from the homes and scenes of youth. The domestic 
coasting trade, in which so many of our citizens have engaged 
for the last half-century, changed the tide of population to 
the Southern portion of the old town, and in the villages of 
South Yarmouth, South and West Dennis and Dennis Port, 
has been the greater portion of the increase in population 
during that period. The character of the vessels employed 
has altogether changed. Instead of sloops and schooners of 
from 50 to 100 tons, which formerly plied between the Cape 
and the Connecticut River and New York, three-masted 
schooners, of from 500 to 1000 tons, are employed, and the 
mechanical devices are so systematized that fewer men are 
required than were formerly needed on a vessel of much 
smaller proportions. The fishing business, which was for- 
merly pursued here with good success, has also changed in 
its character. The tendency of all business, of late, has been 
to centralization, which concentrates the interests and 
activities of those engaged in it to prominent points. Hence 
Boston, Gloucester and Provincetown alone remain conspic- 
uous as fishing ports, and the business, together with those 
pursuing it, has gradually gone to other places. 

Emigrations, to localities believed to be more favored by 
natural advantages for the pursuit of a livelihood, have 
occurred for the last century and a half. The first one of 
importance, was to the then District of Maine, to which, as 
may be seen in former pages, ' many of our people emigrated, 
about the year 1736, and founded the town of Gorham, in 
that State. During the dark days of the Revolutionary War, 
and soon after, a number of families from the East Parish left 
for the town of Ashfield, in Franklin County. Among 
them were Kimball, Zachariah, Thomas, Mark, Ezekiel, 
Anthony, Elisha and Barnabas Howes, Lot Basset, the Vin- 
cents, the Eldridges, the Halls, the Searses, and others — 

' See page 140. 



STATISTICS OF POPULATION. 276 

some twenty families in all, a few of whom, sighing for the 
ocean and the sea-shore, returned to take their chances at 
the old home, but a large number of them remained there, 
and became permanent residents. They packed up their 
effects upon ox-carts, and, amid the regrets and blessings of 
those who accompanied them to " White's Brook," which 
was regarded as their Rubicon, they took their tearful and 
prayerful wa}- to Ashfield. A century afterwards, their 
families celebrated, by proper observances, the departure of 
their fathers and grandsires from Old Yarmouth. 

Later, about the year 1817, Rev. Timothy Alden, Jr., his 
brother Isaiah and others went to Meadville, Pa. ; and still 
later, others to Western New York and Ohio. How many, 
at a still later date, left these shores for Chicago, California 
and other Western places, is beyond computation. But 
wherever they have been, they have impressed their charac- 
teristics upon the places in which they have located, and kept 
up the old-time virtues and energy of the primitive race. 

" Even in their ashes live their wonted fires." 

Thus ends the narrative of the settlement and develop- 
ment of this ancient township. As I pen these lines the 
scenes which have been pictured upon the memory, as 
revealed in the last two hundred and fifty years of the 
town's history, rise up in review. We seem to see the dusky 
forms of lyannough and his retinue, as they came down to 
the shore to welcome Winslow, Standish and their associates ; 
the little congregation gathering to the meeting-house at 
" Fort Hill," to listen to the instructions of Rev. Mr. 
Matthews, and while looking sharply for hostile savages, 
watching with no less keen a glance for heresy in the sermon ; 
the fitting out of the bold warriors to go in pursuit of Philip 
and his men, with all the tears, sighs, anxieties and doubts 
which the crisis called forth; the preparations to attack the 
French at Louisburg and Quebec ; the meeting, in hot liaste, 



277 OLD YARMOUTH. 

of the minute men, for Lexington and Bunker Hill ; the 
gatherings of the Sons of Liberty in their nightly conclaves, 
to consult for the general good ; the preparation, the night 
before the march to the aid of Washington at Dorchester 
Heights ; — all these things, and many more, crowd upon the 
memory and fill its chambers, as the musty folios, the volu- 
minous records, the stained and ancient manuscripts, that 
have been so long companions to the writer, are dismissed 
from close and intimate companionship. Would that he 
could cause the reader to see these things as vividly as he 
sees them, and that he could more adequately portray the 
sacrifices, the virtues and the heroism of the men and 
women of Old Yarmouth. 



APPENDIX. 



EDUCATIONAL. 

THE early educational history of this town has, of course, 
been embraced in the history of Yarmouth. Since the 
separation, Dennis has evinced a commendable interest in the 
education of the young. As has already been noticed, a 
struggle between progress and conservatism, in relation to 
the schools, commencing in 1858, by the union of some of 
the districts, ended in 1866, by the entire abolition of the 
district system, and the erection of five commodious school 
edifices. The appropriation for school purposes in 1794 was 
;^40 ; in 1884, $5000. 

In this connection, the college graduates of this town, — 
so far as their names can be recalled by the writer, — will be 
enumerated, with the name of the college from which they 
graduated, indicated by abbreviations, as in former pages : 

Hon. Baalis Sanford, Amh. 
Hon. John E. Sanford, Amh. 
Philip Howes Sears, Esq., H. 
Joseph Nickerson, Esq., D. 
Rev. Alpheus Nickerson, D. 
Samuel Crowell, H. 

Hon. Baalis Sanford was educated to the law, and acquired 
a large practice. He also served several terms as Represen- 
tative from Taunton, and was for one term District Attorney 
for the Southern District of Massachusetts. He died several 
years since. Hon. John E. Sanford was also educated to 
the legal profession, has served several terms as Representa- 
tive from Taunton, and was for four years Speaker of the 



279 OLD YARMOUTH. 

House of Representatives. He is now State Commissioner 
on Harbors and Public Lands. Philip H. Sears, Esq., has 
been a successful lawyer, serving for several years as one of 
the Overseers of Harvard College, and has frequently been 
called upon to serve as orator of literary and historical 
societies. Joseph Nickerson, Esq., has heretofore been 
noticed in these pages. His brother, Rev. Alpheus Nicker- 
son, still survives, and is engaged in the duties of his 
profession. 

STATE, DISTRICT AND COUNTY OFFICERS. 

The following citizens of Dennis have filled State, Dis- 
trict and County ofifices since the division of the town : 

Oren Howes, member of the Constitutional Convention 
of 1820. Special County Commissioner, 1829- 1832. 

Jonathan Nickerson, Special County ^^Commissioner, 1837- 
1840. 

Seth Crowell, Senator, 1841-1842. County Commis- 
sioner, 1844- 1853. Member of Constitutional Convention, 

1853- 

Marshall S. Underwood, Senator, i860- 1 861. Executive 

Councillor, 1869- 1871. Presidential Elector, 1880. 

Joshua C. Howes, Special County Commissioner, 1859- 
1862. 

James S. Howes, County Commissioner, 1865 -1884. 

Joseph K. Baker, Senator, 1872- 1873. Executive Coun- 
cillor, 1875 -1879. Land and Harbor Commissioner, 1884. 

Luther Fisk, Sheriff of Barnstable County, 1884. 

Following is a list of Deputies, Representatives, Clerks, 
Treasurers and Selectmen. The dates indicate the time of 
their first election, and the number of years served, but not 
the particular dates of service ; some of them having been 
re-elected after an interregnum of several years : 



TOWN OFFICERS. 



280 



REPRESENTATIVES. 







Yrs. 






Yrs. 


1794. 


Micajah Sears, 


3- 


1840. 


Samuel Rogers, 


2. 


1800. 


Joseph Sears, 


I. 


1842. 


Alex'r Howes, 


2. 


1802. 


Judah Paddock, 


9- 


1844. 


Neh'h Baker, 


I. 


I8I2. 


Zenas Howes, 


I. 


1845. 


Joseph K. Baker, 


2. 


I8I3. 


Samuel Chase, 


3- 


1847. 


Wm. Howes, 


2. 


I8I4. 


Jno. Paddock, 


I. 


1849. 


Obed Baker 2d, 


2. 


1816. 


Dan'l Howes, 


2. 


1851. 


Thos. Hall, 


2. 


I82I. 


Orin Howes, 


II. 


1853- 


M. S. Underwood, 


4- 


1829. 


Zohith Howes, 


I. 


1*^55- 


Joshua C. Howes, 


2. 


1832. 


John Baker, 


I. 


1857- 


Luther Studley, 


2. 


1833. 


Thacher Clark, 


2. 


1859. 


Jas. S. Howes, 


2. 


(< 


Joshua Wixon, Jr., 


2. 


1865. 


Joseph Hall, 


2. 


1835- 


Seth Crowell, 


5- 


1867. 


Frederick Hebard, 


I. 


(< 


Jno. Nickerson, 


I. 


1870. 


Jos. K. Baker, Jr., 


2. 


1836. 


Stephen Homer, 


I. 


1873- 


David P. Howes, 


2. 


(( 


Jona. Nickerson. 


2. 


1875. 


Luther Fisk, 


2. 


1837. 


Daniel Hedge, 


I. 


1879. 


Thos. P. Howes, 


2. 


<( 


Wm. Hinckley, 


I. 


1882. 


David Fisk, 


2. 


1838. 


Seth T. Whelden, 


2. 


1884. 


Joshua Crowell, 


2. 




SE 


LEC 


:tmen. 




1794. 


Jerem'h Howes, 


II. 


1836. 


Obed Baxter, 


2. 


<( 


Joseph Sears, 


II. 


<( 


Seth Crowell, 


4. 


<( 


Jona. Bangs, 


14. 


1838. 


Neh'h Crowell, 


9- 


1805. 


Enoch Hall, 


12. 


<< 


Alexander Howes, 


3- 


<< 


Daniel Howes, 


10. 


1839. 


Edm. Sears, 


5. 


1806. 


Dan'l Eldridge, 


I. 


1841. 


Uriah Howes, 


3- 


1808. 


Sam'l Chase, 


8. 


1844. 


Charles Howes, 


I. 


1809. 


Nathan Crowell, 


7- 


1845. 


Thos., Hall, 


10. 


I8I6. 


Perez Howes, 


2. 


1846. 


Benj. Thacher, 


3- 


(( 


Lothrop Howes, 


2. 


1848. 


Stephen Homer, 


I. 


<( 


Jona. Nickerson, 


19. 


1849. 


Obed Baker, 2d, 


9- 


I8I8. 


Prince Howes, 


3- 


<( 


Joshua Wixon, Jr., 


5. 


(< 


David Crowell, 


I. 


1851. 


David Howes, 


I. 


I8I9. 


Thacher Clark, 


12. 


1852. 


Atherton H. Baker 


, 3. 


I82I. 


Oren Howes, 


14. 


1855. 


Jos. K. Baker, 


3. 


1834. 


Eleazer Nickerson, 


I. 


<( 


James S. Howes, 


6. 


1835 


Abijah Howes, 


3- 


1858. 


Shub. B. Howes, 


3- 



281 



OLD YARMOUTH. 



Yrs. 



Yrs 



i860. 


Joshua C. Howes, 4. 


>( 


Warren Snow, 


7- 


I86I. 


Elijah Baxter, 7. 


1875. 


David Fisk, 


7- 


<( 


Alvan Small, 1 1. 


1877. 


Joshua Crowell, Jr., 


6. 


1866. 


Jos. K. Baker, jr., i. 


(( 


Sylvester Baker, 


7- 


1867. 


Doane Kelley, 2. 


1881. 


Hiram Loring, 


2. 


(< 


Luther Fisk, 3. 


1883. 


Henry H. Fisk, 


2. 


1869. 


I. B. Hall, 10. 










CLERKS AND 


TREASURERS. 




1794. 


Elisha Bassett, 4. 


1855- 


Mar. S. Underwood, 


3- 


1798. 


Nathan Stone, Jr., 33. 


1858. 


Isa'h Nickerson, Jr., 


7- 


I83I. 


Nehemiah Baker, 5. 


1865. 


Jona. Bangs, 


5- 


1836. 


Isaac Howes, i. 


1869. 


Obed Baker, 2d, 


13- 


1837- 


Alvah Nickerson, 6. 


1882. 


Chas. G. Baker, 


2. 


1843. 


Watson Baker, 12. 









Illustrations. 



1. Map of Old Yarmouth in 1644, facing page 13, in which the natural features of the 
territory are drawn, on a reduced scale, from Walling's County map, with the highways 
and buildings located according to the best information, derived from the records and tra- 
dition. 

2. Mark of Masshantampaine, sagamore, p. 96, affixed to deed of acquittance of An- 
thony Thacher, John Crow and Thomas Howes. 

3. Reproduction, p. 90, of a communication from fifteen members of Yarmouth church, 
addressed to the Governor and Assistants, in vindicaticn of the theological soimdness of Rev. 
Thomas Thornton. The value of this document is enhanced by the fact that it contains 
the autographs of fifteen of the leading members of the church and citizens of the town, 
twenty-eight years after its settlement. 

4. The Thacher Cradle, on p. 135. 

5. Portrait of Hon. George Thacher, facing p. 188. 

6. Poetrait of Rev. Timothy Alden, p. 192, from the original in the possession of his 
grandson, Mr. Weld N. Alden, Meadville, Pa. 

7. Portrait of Mr. George Hallet, p. ig6. 

S. A portrait of Joshua Sears, Esq., prepared for this history, by the courtesy of Mr. J. 
Montgomery Sears, will, if ready for the binder, be inserted to face page 199. 

9. Portrait of Capt. Isaiah Crowell, p. 206, furnished by his son, Hon. Henry G. Crowell. 

10. Portrait of Brevet Major General Joseph E. Hamblin, p. 208, contributed by his 
sister, Miss Deborah Hamblin. 

11. Portrait of Capt. Asa Eldridge, p. 216, with that of her father, Mr. George Hallet, 
was contributed by Mrs. Eliza Eldridge. 

12. Portrait of Hon. Seth Crowell, p. 268, contributed by his daughter-in-law, Mrs. 
Hannah L. Crowell. 

13. Portrait of Capt. Prince S. Crowell, p. 270, furnished by his son. A. F. Crowell. 
Esq. 



ERRATA. 
The reader is requested to specially correct the following errors^ 

On page 38, loth line, read 1651, instead of 1657. 
Page 86, 17th line, 1658, instead of 166S. 

Page 260, 4th line, in part of the edition, read " Liibra," instead of "Sulra." 
Page 230. 17th line, for "topsail-yards" read " topsails." 

On page 26S, 20th line, the semi-colon should follow the word "town," instead of the 
date 1841-42, 

On page 13 the figures of the latitude and longitude of the town are transposed, as will 
be apparent to the reader. 



f'^Z ^0^^ 



^lUaJ^ 



